How to Use Prefixes & Suffixes to Expand Your English Vocabulary
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🔹 Introduction
Prefixes and suffixes are powerful tools for learning new English words faster. Instead of memorizing words one by one, you can use prefixes and suffixes to form new words easily.
📌 Example:
- Happy → Unhappy (Prefix "un-" means "not")
- Create → Creative (Suffix "-ive" means "having the quality of")
🚀 In this guide, you’ll learn:
✅ What prefixes and suffixes are (with Hindi explanations)
✅ How to use them to form new words
✅ Common prefixes and suffixes with meanings & examples
✅ Practical exercises to expand your vocabulary
By the end, you’ll understand English word formation better and grow your vocabulary easily! 💡
🔹 1. What Are Prefixes & Suffixes? (Prefixes और Suffixes क्या होते हैं?)
✔ Prefixes – शब्द के शुरुआत में जुड़ने वाले शब्दांश, जो अर्थ बदलते हैं।
✔ Suffixes – शब्द के अंत में जुड़ने वाले शब्दांश, जो शब्द के प्रकार को बदलते हैं।
📌 Example:
- Happy → Unhappy (Prefix ‘un-’ जोड़ने से अर्थ बदल गया)
- Care → Careful (Suffix ‘-ful’ जोड़ने से नया शब्द बना)
✅ Why are Prefixes & Suffixes Important?
✔ Vocabulary बढ़ाने का आसान तरीका।
✔ नए शब्द याद रखने में मदद करता है।
✔ Sentence formation सुधारने में सहायक होता है।
🔹 2. Common Prefixes and Their Meanings
1️⃣ Prefixes That Show Negation (नकारात्मक अर्थ वाले Prefixes)
| Prefix | Meaning (अर्थ) | Example Words | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Un- | Not | Unhappy, Unfair, Unkind | दुखी, अन्यायपूर्ण, निर्दयी |
| Dis- | Opposite of | Disagree, Dislike, Disapprove | असहमत, नापसंद, अस्वीकृत |
| In- | Not | Inactive, Incorrect, Insensitive | निष्क्रिय, गलत, असंवेदनशील |
| Im- | Not | Impossible, Impatient, Immature | असंभव, अधीर, अपरिपक्व |
| Ir- | Not | Irregular, Irresponsible, Irreplaceable | अनियमित, गैर-जिम्मेदार, अपरिवर्तनीय |
📌 Example Sentences:
✔ The rules were unfair. (नियम अन्यायपूर्ण थे।)
✔ She was disinterested in the conversation. (वह बातचीत में रुचि नहीं रख रही थी।)
2️⃣ Prefixes That Show Quantity (मात्रा को दर्शाने वाले Prefixes)
| Prefix | Meaning | Example Words | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mono- | One | Monologue, Monorail | एकल वार्ता, एकल रेल |
| Bi- | Two | Bicycle, Bilingual | दोपहिया साइकिल, द्विभाषी |
| Multi- | Many | Multicultural, Multitasking | बहुसंस्कृति, बहु-कार्यशील |
📌 Example Sentences:
✔ He is bilingual and speaks both Hindi and English. (वह हिंदी और अंग्रेजी दोनों बोलता है।)
3️⃣ Prefixes That Show Time & Order (समय और क्रम को दर्शाने वाले Prefixes)
| Prefix | Meaning | Example Words | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre- | Before | Preview, Prepaid | पूर्वावलोकन, पूर्वभुगतान |
| Post- | After | Postpone, Postgraduate | स्थगित करना, स्नातकोत्तर |
| Re- | Again | Rewrite, Rebuild | फिर से लिखना, फिर से बनाना |
📌 Example Sentences:
✔ I need to rewrite my essay. (मुझे अपना निबंध फिर से लिखना होगा।)
🔹 3. Common Suffixes and Their Meanings
1️⃣ Suffixes That Make Nouns (संज्ञा बनाने वाले Suffixes)
| Suffix | Meaning | Example Words | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| -er | One who | Teacher, Writer | शिक्षक, लेखक |
| -ment | State of | Development, Agreement | विकास, समझौता |
| -ness | State/Quality | Kindness, Happiness | दयालुता, खुशी |
📌 Example Sentences:
✔ She is a writer. (वह एक लेखिका है।)
✔ Happiness is important in life. (खुशी जीवन में महत्वपूर्ण है।)
2️⃣ Suffixes That Make Adjectives (विशेषण बनाने वाले Suffixes)
| Suffix | Meaning | Example Words | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ful | Full of | Hopeful, Joyful | आशावान, आनंदित |
| -less | Without | Hopeless, Careless | निराश, लापरवाह |
| -able | Can be done | Breakable, Lovable | तोड़ने योग्य, प्रिय |
📌 Example Sentences:
✔ She is a hopeful person. (वह आशावादी व्यक्ति है।)
✔ He is very careless with his work. (वह अपने काम में बहुत लापरवाह है।)
🔹 4. How to Use Prefixes & Suffixes to Learn New Words Faster
✅ Step 1: Learn the meaning of common prefixes & suffixes.
✅ Step 2: Identify base words (e.g., happy → unhappy, happiness).
✅ Step 3: Try adding prefixes & suffixes to different words.
✅ Step 4: Use them in daily conversations & writing.
📌 Example Practice:
✔ Write 5 words and add prefixes or suffixes to change their meanings.
🔹 5. Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make (And How to Fix Them!)
❌ He is very kindness. (Wrong)
✅ He is very kind. (Correct)
❌ She is a teachering English. (Wrong)
✅ She is teaching English. (Correct)
📌 Tip: Some suffixes change word type (e.g., "-ing" makes a verb, "-er" makes a noun).
🔹 6. Daily Practice Exercises
✅ Exercise 1: Identify the Prefix/Suffix
1️⃣ Rewrite → Prefix: ______
2️⃣ Happiness → Suffix: ______
✅ Exercise 2: Match the Meaning
1️⃣ Multi- → (a) Again
2️⃣ Re- → (b) Many
✅ Exercise 3: Add a Prefix/Suffix to Make a New Word
1️⃣ Agree → ______
2️⃣ Break → ______
🔹 Conclusion
Now you know how to use prefixes & suffixes to expand your English vocabulary! 🚀
✅ Learn new words easily by adding prefixes & suffixes.
✅ Understand word formation to improve spelling & writing.
✅ Practice daily for better vocabulary retention.
💡 Try making 10 new words using prefixes & suffixes today!
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