An easy way to increase your vocabulary is to use prefixes and suffixes before and after the word to make a new word.
Check out our page on word building for examples. Here are some common ones for you:
Common prefixes before adjectives
– ‘dis’ prefix: disloyal, dishonest
– ‘il’ prefix before adjectives beginning with ‘l’: illegal, illicit, illiterate
– ‘im’ (before adjectives begining with ‘m’): immature, immodest
– ‘un’ prefix: unlawful, unhappy
– ‘multi’ (several / many): multinational, multi-use
– ‘uni’ (one): uniform
– ‘bi’ (two): bicycle, bilingual
Common prefixes before verbs
– ‘dis’ (not): disagree, disapprove
– ‘out’ (more than someone / something else): outperform, outrun
– ‘over’ (too much): overreact, oversleep
– ‘re’ (again): redo, reform
Common prefixes before nouns
– ‘co’ (with): co-worker, cooperation
– ‘pre’ (before): prequel, pre-dinner
– ‘post’ (after): postnatal, post-war
– ‘sub’ (below): submarine
– ‘super’ (greater than): supermarket, superstar
– ‘under’ (below): underage, understudy
Common suffixes
– ‘able’ / ‘ible’ (adjectives): comfortable, suitable
– ‘ant’ (jobs, people): accountant, pedant
– ‘ian’ (jobs): musician, technician
– ‘ist’: communist, receptionnist
– ‘ful’ (adjectives): hopeful, joyful
– ‘ment’ (nouns): contentment, resentment
– ‘ness’ (nouns ending -y): happiness, readiness
– ‘ty’ / ‘thy’ (concept nouns): loyalty, apathy
Word-building
Choose the correct answer.
