UNIT3

UNIT 3 : Dictionary skills and Information Gathering and Processing Skills

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNIT 3: Affixes and Spell Check

 

General Objectives:

                            To use the dictionary as a reference in order to ascertain or confirm words

                        pronunciation, meaning, spelling and grammar effectively and

                        independently.

 

Specific Objectives:

                            By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

1. understand the formation of different classes of words through the use of affixes
2. understand the meanings of meanings
3. use affixes correctly
4. transform words using appropriate affixes
5. check on the spelling of words and consistently use correct spelling in written work
6. use the dictionary and spell check tools on the words processor (done by those who have access to computers)

 

 

 

 

1. Affixes

Specific Objectives:

                                   By the end of this unit, you should be able to:

1. understand the formation of different classes of words through the use of affixes
2. understand the meanings of affixes
3. use affixes correctly
4. transform words using appropriate affixes

 

         Input

 

 

 

 

              Affix is a group of letters added to the beginning or the end of a word.  It changes the meaning or the function of words.  Letters added to the beginning of the word is called a prefix and those added to the end of the word is called a suffix.  A prefix changes the meaning of the word, for example, ‘untie’.  Some other examples of prefixes are dis-, trans-, pre-, sub-, anti-, etc.  Whereas suffix changes the grammatical function of a word, for example, by adding ‘er’ to ‘write’ we get ‘writer’ and change a verb into a noun.  Other examples of suffixes are –able, -tion, -less, -ly, -ment etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some common prefixes and suffixes.

 

 

Prefixes                              

 

a-, ab             

an

ante-

anti

arch-, archi-

auto-

bi-

co-,com-,con-

 

contra-, counter-

 

de-

dis-

e-, ex-

extra-

fore-

in-

in-,im-

inter

intro-

mis-

non-

ob-

over-

per-

peri-

post-

pre

quasi-

re-

retro-

semi-

sub-

super-,sup-

sym-, syn-

tele-

trans-

ultra-

un-

with-

Meaning

 

From , away

Without

before

against

first, chief

self

two

together

 

against

 

away from

opposite of

out of, from

beyond

front

in,on

not

among, between

inside

wrong

not

against

excessive, above

through

around

after

before

seemingly

again, back

backward

half

under

above, over

together

at a distance

across, over

beyond

not, the opposite

against, back

Example

 

Apart, abstract

Anarchy, anomaly

Anti-aircraft

antecedent

archbishop, archipelago

autobiography

bicycle

cooperate, combine,

confer

contradict, counter-attack

depart

discontent

eject, export

extraordinary

forehead

install, inscribe

indirect, imperfect

interchange

introduce

mislead

nonconformist

object

overweight, overhead

perceive

perimeter

postscript

preview

quasi-official

recur, repay

retrograde

semicircle

submarine

superhuman, surcharge

symposium, syndicate

telegram, television

transatlantic

ultraviolet

unable, unfasten

withstand, withhold

Suffixes

 

-able, -ible

-al

 

-an

 

-ance

-ant

-age

 

-cy

-ed

-en

-ence

-ent

-er

-er, -or

 

-ese

-ess

-est

-ful

-fy

-hood

-ic

-ier, -yer

-ion

 

-ish

-ist

-ism

-ize

-less

-let

-ly

-ment

-most

-ness

-ship

 

-tion

 

-tude

-ure

-ward

Meaning

 

that can be

of, like, having the nature; act of

having to do with; a native of

act of

one who

act, condition, or collection of

state of being

having, characterized by

cause to be or to have

state of being

one who

more

a person or thing that does something

of or pertaining to

female

most

full of

make,  cause to be

state of being

having the nature of

a person concerned with

act, condition, or result of

like, tending to

a person who

action, doctrine, quality

cause to become

without, that does not

small

in a matter

act or state of

most

state or quality of being

state or quality of being, position or rank

act or state of, condition of being

quality, state of

act or fact

in the direction of

Example

 

obtainable, digestible

ornamental, arrival

 

Shakespearian, Singaporean

performance

attendant

breakage, bondage, baggage

bankruptcy

bearded, honeyed

weaken, strengthen

absence

president

longer, smarter

reporter, actor

 

Chinese

heiress

warmest., nearest

cheerful

simplify, horrify

boyhood

artistic

financier, lawyer

admission, fascination, collection

childish, bookish

tourist

socialism, heroism

crystallize

homeless, ceaseless

booklet

cheerfully

enjoyment

foremost

darkness, goodness

friendship, professorship

 

action, exhaustion

 

gratitude, solitude

failure

toward

Task 1

The meaning of the following prefix and suffix.

1.   Timer mode is disengaged.

       _________________________________

2.   Breaks are noticeable in Hi-Fi soundtrack.

      __________________________________

3.   Insert a cassette, or using adhesive tape, reseal the slot where the tab was removed.

       _________________________________________________________________

4.   The recorder’s preset positions have been set incorrectly.

       _____________________________________________ 

 

Task 2

Add the correct prefix to the following words.

Possible
Load
Set
Interrupted
Connected

 

Task 3

Add the correct suffix to the following words.

Parent
Child
National
Home
Friend

 

 

 

 

 

Task 4

Transform these words by adding suffixes or prefixes.

Kind (adj)
Inform (v)
Slow (adj)
Install (v)
Picture (n)
Fruit (n)
Head (n)
Circle (v)
Cycle (v)
Green (adj)

 

 

2. Spell Check

 

 

     Input

 

                     

 

Different Spelling

              If you look up the word judgment in the dictionary, you will see that there are two different spellings for this word.  Both of them are correct, but judgment is the more common spelling, so it is written first.

judgment, judgement   1.  the ability to decide correctly:  I can’t make that decision for you; you’ll have to use your judgment.  2  an opinion: to form a judgment    3  an official decision given by a judge of a court of law:  he passed judgment on the accused man.

 

 

 

Task 5

   Judgment               generalize               enroll             fulfill              organise 

 

   Judgement              generalise               enrol             fulfil                organize

Find these words in the dictionary.   Put a tick ( / ) against the most common spelling.                                                                                                                                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

colour  BrE// color AmeE, the quality which allows one to see the difference between (for example) a red flower and a blue flower when both are the same size and shape.

British and American spellings.

 

 

 

 

 

Task 6

Look up these words in the dictionary.  Which spelling would a British person use?  Which spelling would an American use?

 

                          Theatre / theater

                           Rumour / rumor

                           Center / centre

                           Humour / humor

                           Color / colour

                           Program / programme