Prefixes and Suffixes for IELTS Writing Test

Prefix

Meaning

Examples

Explanation

Un-

Not, opposite of

Unlikely, Unhappy

Not likely; not happy.

Re-

Again

Rewrite, Redo

Write again; do again.

Pre-

Before

Preview, Predict

View before; to say beforehand.

Mis-

Wrongly

Misunderstand, Misuse

Understand wrongly; use incorrectly.

Over-

Too much

Overestimate, Overwork

Estimate too high; work too much.

Under-

Too little

Undervalue, Underpay

Value too little; pay too little.

Anti-

Against

Antisocial, Antibiotic

Against social norms; fights bacteria.

Dis-

Not, opposite of

Disagree, Disable

Not agree; make unable.

In-/Im-

Not, without

Incomplete, Impossible

Not complete; not possible.

Co-

Together, with

Cooperate, Coexist

Work together; exist together.

Auto-

Self, same

Autograph, Automatic

Written by oneself; works by itself.

Bi-

Two

Bilingual, Bicycle

Speaks two languages; vehicle with two wheels.

Ex-

Out, former

Ex-president, Export

Former president; send out goods.

Inter-

Between, among

International, Interact

Between nations; engage with others.

Intra-

Within, inside

Intranet, Intravenous

Internal network; inside a vein.

Sub-

Under, below

Submarine, Subtitle

Underwater vessel; text under a video.

Super-

Above, beyond

Superhuman, Supervise

Beyond human ability; oversee actions.

Trans-

Across, beyond

Transport, Transfer

Move across places; shift from one place to another.

En-

Cause to, put into

Encourage, Enable

Inspire courage; make something possible.

De-

Reverse, remove

Deactivate, Defrost

Turn off; remove frost.

Mono-

One, single

Monologue, Monotone

Speech by one person; uniform tone.

Multi-

Many, multiple

Multicultural, Multitask

Many cultures; do multiple tasks.

Non-

Not, without

Nonexistent, Nonverbal

Does not exist; not spoken.

Post-

After

Postgraduate, Postpone

After graduation; delay something.

Pro-

For, forward

Promote, Proceed

Support or advance; move forward.

Semi-

Half, partial

Semicircle, Semifinal

Half-circle; halfway in a competition.

Uni-

One, single

Unilateral, Uniform

Involving one side; consistent in appearance.

Suffix

Meaning

Examples

Explanation

-tion

State or action (noun)

Education, Operation

Act of educating; a process of working.

-ment

Result of an action

Development, Achievement

Act of developing; result of achieving.

-er/-or

Person performing action

Teacher, Actor

One who teaches; one who acts.

-ly

In a manner (adverb)

Quickly, Happily

In a quick way; in a happy way.

-able/-ible

Ability or quality

Capable, Visible

Able to do; can be seen.

-ous

Full of (adjective)

Famous, Dangerous

Full of fame; risky or harmful.

-ive

Having a quality

Creative, Productive

Having creativity; efficient in producing.

-ness

State or quality

Happiness, Kindness

The state of being happy; quality of being kind.

-ic

Pertaining to

Historic, Scientific

Related to history; relating to science.

-ize/-ise

To make or become (verb)

Organize, Realise

To arrange; to make real.

-al

Relating to

Cultural, Natural

Related to culture; related to nature.

-ance

Action, process, state

Performance, Guidance

Act of performing; act of guiding.

-ence

State, quality

Difference, Existence

State of being different; state of existing.

-ary

Related to, place of

Secretary, Library

One who helps administratively; a place for books.

-ful

Full of

Beautiful, Hopeful

Full of beauty; full of hope.

-less

Without

Careless, Hopeless

Without care; without hope.

-ship

Position, quality

Leadership, Friendship

Being a leader; bond of friendship.

-ity

Quality, state

Responsibility, Flexibility

State of being responsible; ability to adapt.

-sion

Action, process (noun)

Decision, Expansion

Act of deciding; process of expanding.