Chapter: UNIT 10 Suffixes and Prefixes
📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition class 8
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
affixprefixsuffixroot wordunfairmisunderstandincorrectimpossiblerewriteempoweranti-nuclearsubmarineunderpaidco-authorhelpfulplayerrunningshortlycomparableinvisiblekindnesspaymentpunishmentdevelopment
📃 Word Formation Rules
► An affix is a group of letters added to a root word to form a new word.
► A prefix is added to the beginning of a root word: un + fair = unfair.
► A suffix is added to the end of a root word: help + ful = helpful.
► un-, dis-, and in- often give a negative or opposite meaning: happy → unhappy, honest → dishonest, correct → incorrect.
► mis- means wrongly: understand → misunderstand.
► re- means again: write → rewrite.
► en- or em- can mean to make or provide with: rich → enrich, power → empower.
► anti- means against: nuclear → anti-nuclear.
► sub- means under, below, or smaller: marine → submarine, committee → subcommittee.
► under- means below the usual level, amount, or size: paid → underpaid.
► co- means together or jointly: author → co-author.
► -s and -es form plurals or third-person singular verb forms: book → books, go → goes.
► -ed forms the past tense and past participle of regular verbs: help → helped.
► -ing forms the present participle, gerund, or an adjective: run → running.
► -ly commonly forms adverbs: short → shortly.
► -er can indicate a person who performs an action or form a comparative adjective: play → player, big → bigger.
► -ic forms adjectives: hero → heroic.
► -able and -ible mean able to be: compare → comparable, visible → invisible.
► -ness forms abstract nouns showing a state or quality: kind → kindness.
► -ful means full of or having a quality: power → powerful.
► -ment forms nouns showing an action, process, or result: pay → payment.
1. Prefix: un- (8 words)
unfair[/ʌnˈfeə(r)/]adjeasy
Meaning: অন্যায়; ন্যায়সঙ্গত নয়
Alt: পক্ষপাতপূর্ণ
Example: It is unfair to blame the innocent boy.
Syn: unjustAnt: fair
💡 Exam tip: un- usually gives a negative meaning to an adjective.
unhappy[/ʌnˈhæpi/]adjeasy
Meaning: অসুখী; দুঃখিত
Alt: আনন্দহীন
Example: The unhappy child began to cry.
Syn: sadAnt: happy
💡 Exam tip: happy + un- = unhappy.
unjust[/ʌnˈdʒʌst/]adjeasy
Meaning: অন্যায়
Alt: ন্যায়বিচারহীন
Example: The poor man suffered an unjust punishment.
Syn: unfairAnt: just
💡 Exam tip: Remember that un- can mean not or opposite of.
uncommon[/ʌnˈkɒmən/]adjmedium
Meaning: অস্বাভাবিক; বিরল
Alt: সাধারণ নয়
Example: A white tiger is an uncommon animal.
Syn: rareAnt: common
💡 Exam tip: common becomes uncommon by adding the prefix un-.
unpaid[/ʌnˈpeɪd/]adjmedium
Meaning: অবৈতনিক; যার পারিশ্রমিক দেওয়া হয়নি
Alt: বেতনহীন
Example: He did some unpaid work for the charity.
Syn: voluntaryAnt: paid
💡 Exam tip: Use un- before paid to express the negative condition.
unready[/ʌnˈredi/]adjeasy
Meaning: অপ্রস্তুত
Alt: প্রস্তুত নয়
Example: The team was unready for the difficult match.
Syn: unpreparedAnt: ready
💡 Exam tip: unready means not ready.
unkind[/ʌnˈkaɪnd/]adjeasy
Meaning: নির্দয়; দয়াহীন
Alt: অমায়িক নয়
Example: It is unkind to laugh at a poor person.
Syn: cruelAnt: kind
💡 Exam tip: This word is frequently used in transformation exercises.
untie[/ʌnˈtaɪ/]verbeasy
Meaning: খুলে দেওয়া; বাঁধন খোলা
Alt: গিঁট খোলা
Example: Please untie the rope carefully.
Syn: loosenAnt: tie
💡 Exam tip: With verbs, un- often means reverse an action.
2. Prefix: dis-, mis-, in- (8 words)
dishonest[/dɪsˈɒnɪst/]adjeasy
Meaning: অসৎ
Alt: সত্যবাদী নয়
Example: A dishonest person cannot gain lasting respect.
Syn: deceitfulAnt: honest
💡 Exam tip: honest takes dis- to form its opposite.
dislike[/dɪsˈlaɪk/]verbeasy
Meaning: অপছন্দ করা
Alt: ভালো না লাগা
Example: I dislike wasting food.
Syn: hateAnt: like
💡 Exam tip: dis- may indicate an opposite feeling or action.
discomfort[/dɪsˈkʌmfət/]nounmedium
Meaning: অস্বস্তি
Alt: শারীরিক বা মানসিক কষ্ট
Example: The hard seat caused great discomfort.
Syn: uneaseAnt: comfort
💡 Exam tip: comfort + dis- = discomfort.
dishonour[/dɪsˈɒnə(r)/]verbmedium
Meaning: অসম্মান করা
Alt: মর্যাদাহানি করা
Example: We must not dishonour our parents.
Syn: disgraceAnt: honour
💡 Exam tip: British spelling is dishonour; American spelling is dishonor.
misunderstand[/ˌmɪsʌndəˈstænd/]verbeasy
Meaning: ভুল বোঝা
Alt: ভুলভাবে ব্যাখ্যা করা
Example: Do not misunderstand my words.
Syn: misinterpretAnt: understand
💡 Exam tip: mis- means wrongly or incorrectly.
misconduct[/ˌmɪsˈkɒndʌkt/]nounhard
Meaning: অসদাচরণ
Alt: নিয়মবিরুদ্ধ আচরণ
Example: The officer was punished for misconduct.
Syn: wrongdoingAnt: good conduct
💡 Exam tip: misconduct is formed with mis- plus conduct.
incorrect[/ˌɪnkəˈrekt/]adjeasy
Meaning: ভুল; সঠিক নয়
Alt: ত্রুটিপূর্ণ
Example: Your answer is incorrect.
Syn: wrongAnt: correct
💡 Exam tip: in- often means not before adjectives.
impossible[/ɪmˈpɒsəbl/]adjmedium
Meaning: অসম্ভব
Alt: করা যায় না এমন
Example: Nothing is impossible for a determined learner.
Syn: unachievableAnt: possible
💡 Exam tip: Before words beginning with p, in- changes to im-.
3. Prefix: re-, en-, em- (8 words)
rewrite[/ˌriːˈraɪt/]verbeasy
Meaning: পুনরায় লেখা
Alt: সংশোধন করে আবার লেখা
Example: Please rewrite the paragraph neatly.
Syn: write againAnt: erase
💡 Exam tip: re- means again.
reenter[/ˌriːˈentə(r)/]verbmedium
Meaning: পুনরায় প্রবেশ করা
Alt: আবার ঢোকা
Example: The player reentered the field after treatment.
Syn: returnAnt: leave
💡 Exam tip: reenter means enter again.
recall[/rɪˈkɔːl/]verbmedium
Meaning: স্মরণ করা
Alt: ফিরিয়ে নেওয়া
Example: I cannot recall his name.
Syn: rememberAnt: forget
💡 Exam tip: re- can show repetition or returning to a previous idea.
return[/rɪˈtɜːn/]verbeasy
Meaning: ফিরে আসা; ফেরত দেওয়া
Alt: পুনরায় যাওয়া
Example: She will return the book tomorrow.
Syn: come backAnt: depart
💡 Exam tip: Use return instead of come back in formal writing.
rethink[/ˌriːˈθɪŋk/]verbmedium
Meaning: পুনর্বিবেচনা করা
Alt: আবার ভেবে দেখা
Example: We should rethink our plan.
Syn: reconsiderAnt: ignore
💡 Exam tip: rethink = think again.
enrich[/ɪnˈrɪtʃ/]verbmedium
Meaning: সমৃদ্ধ করা
Alt: উন্নত বা মূল্যবান করা
Example: Reading books enriches our knowledge.
Syn: improveAnt: impoverish
💡 Exam tip: en- can mean to make or cause to become.
encourage[/ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ/]verbeasy
Meaning: উৎসাহিত করা
Alt: সাহস জোগানো
Example: Teachers encourage students to work hard.
Syn: inspireAnt: discourage
💡 Exam tip: The noun form is encouragement.
empower[/ɪmˈpaʊə(r)/]verbhard
Meaning: ক্ষমতায়ন করা
Alt: ক্ষমতা প্রদান করা
Example: Education empowers people to change their lives.
Syn: enableAnt: disable
💡 Exam tip: em- often means to put into or provide with.
4. Prefix: anti-, sub-, under-, co- (8 words)
anti-nuclear[/ˌæntiˈnjuːkliə(r)/]adjhard
Meaning: পারমাণবিক অস্ত্র বা শক্তির বিরোধী
Alt: পরমাণুবিরোধী
Example: The group organised an anti-nuclear campaign.
Syn: against nuclear powerAnt: pro-nuclear
💡 Exam tip: anti- means against.
anti-aircraft[/ˌæntiˈeəkrɑːft/]adjhard
Meaning: বিমানবিধ্বংসী
Alt: বিমানের বিরুদ্ধে ব্যবহৃত
Example: The army installed anti-aircraft guns.
Syn: air-defenceAnt: pro-aircraft
💡 Exam tip: Use a hyphen in many compound words beginning with anti-.
submarine[/ˌsʌbməˈriːn/]nounmedium
Meaning: ডুবোজাহাজ
Alt: সমুদ্রের নিচে চলাচলকারী যান
Example: The submarine travelled beneath the ocean.
Syn: underwater vesselAnt: surface ship
💡 Exam tip: sub- means under or below.
subcommittee[/ˈsʌbkəmɪti/]nounhard
Meaning: উপকমিটি
Alt: বড় কমিটির অধীন ছোট কমিটি
Example: The subcommittee submitted its report.
Syn: smaller committeeAnt: main committee
💡 Exam tip: sub- can indicate a smaller or subordinate group.
undersize[/ˌʌndəˈsaɪz/]adjmedium
Meaning: স্বাভাবিকের চেয়ে ছোট
Alt: ছোট আকারের
Example: The undersize shirt did not fit me.
Syn: smallAnt: oversize
💡 Exam tip: under- means below the usual size or amount.
underpaid[/ˌʌndəˈpeɪd/]adjmedium
Meaning: কম বেতনপ্রাপ্ত
Alt: কাজের তুলনায় কম পারিশ্রমিকপ্রাপ্ত
Example: Many workers feel underpaid.
Syn: poorly paidAnt: well-paid
💡 Exam tip: underpaid is an adjective formed from under- + paid.
co-author[/ˌkəʊˈɔːθə(r)/]nounhard
Meaning: সহলেখক
Alt: যিনি অন্যের সঙ্গে বই লেখেন
Example: She is the co-author of the novel.
Syn: joint authorAnt: sole author
💡 Exam tip: co- means together or jointly.
coordinator[/kəʊˈɔːdɪneɪtə(r)/]nounhard
Meaning: সমন্বয়কারী
Alt: যিনি কাজের সমন্বয় করেন
Example: The coordinator arranged the school programme.
Syn: organiserAnt: disorganiser
💡 Exam tip: coordinator is a person noun ending in -or.
5. Suffixes: -s, -es, -ed, -ing (8 words)
books[/bʊks/]nouneasy
Meaning: বইগুলো
Alt: book-এর বহুবচন
Example: These books are useful for the examination.
Syn: volumesAnt: none
💡 Exam tip: Add -s to form the plural of most nouns.
goes[/ɡəʊz/]verbeasy
Meaning: যায়
Alt: go-এর third-person singular form
Example: He goes to school every day.
Syn: travelsAnt: stays
💡 Exam tip: Add -es to verbs ending in o in the third-person singular.
helped[/helpt/]verbeasy
Meaning: সাহায্য করেছিল; সাহায্য করেছে
Alt: help-এর past form
Example: The nurse helped the sick man.
Syn: assistedAnt: hindered
💡 Exam tip: -ed forms the simple past and past participle of regular verbs.
looked[/lʊkt/]verbmedium
Meaning: তাকিয়েছিল; দেখেছিল
Alt: look-এর past form
Example: She looked at the picture carefully.
Syn: observedAnt: ignored
💡 Exam tip: The pronunciation of -ed may be /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/.
running[/ˈrʌnɪŋ/]verbmedium
Meaning: দৌড়াচ্ছে; দৌড়ানো
Alt: run-এর present participle বা gerund
Example: The running water is very clean.
Syn: moving quicklyAnt: stopping
💡 Exam tip: A short vowel consonant verb often doubles its final consonant before -ing.
coming[/ˈkʌmɪŋ/]verbeasy
Meaning: আসছে; আসা
Alt: come-এর present participle
Example: Are you coming with us?
Syn: approachingAnt: going
💡 Exam tip: Do not double the final consonant in coming.
friendly[/ˈfrendli/]adjeasy
Meaning: বন্ধুত্বপূর্ণ
Alt: অমায়িক
Example: Our new neighbour is very friendly.
Syn: amiableAnt: unfriendly
💡 Exam tip: -ly can form an adjective in friendly, but it commonly forms adverbs too.
shortly[/ˈʃɔːtli/]adveasy
Meaning: শীঘ্রই; সংক্ষেপে
Alt: অল্প সময়ের মধ্যে
Example: The bus will arrive shortly.
Syn: soonAnt: later
💡 Exam tip: short + -ly forms the adverb shortly.
6. Suffixes: -er, -ic, -able/-ible, -ness (8 words)
player[/ˈpleɪə(r)/]nouneasy
Meaning: খেলোয়াড়
Alt: যে ব্যক্তি খেলা করে
Example: The player scored the winning goal.
Syn: athleteAnt: spectator
💡 Exam tip: -er indicates a person who performs an action.
farmer[/ˈfɑːmə(r)/]nouneasy
Meaning: কৃষক
Alt: যিনি জমি চাষ করেন
Example: The farmer grows rice in the field.
Syn: cultivatorAnt: consumer
💡 Exam tip: farm + -er = farmer.
bigger[/ˈbɪɡə(r)/]adjeasy
Meaning: আরও বড়
Alt: big-এর comparative form
Example: This box is bigger than that one.
Syn: largerAnt: smaller
💡 Exam tip: Double the final consonant of big before adding -er.
heroic[/hɪˈrəʊɪk/]adjmedium
Meaning: বীরত্বপূর্ণ
Alt: বীরের মতো
Example: The firefighter made a heroic effort.
Syn: braveAnt: cowardly
💡 Exam tip: -ic often forms adjectives meaning related to or having the quality of.
patriotic[/ˌpeɪtriˈɒtɪk/]adjmedium
Meaning: দেশপ্রেমিক
Alt: দেশের প্রতি ভালোবাসাপূর্ণ
Example: Patriotic citizens respect their country.
Syn: nationalisticAnt: unpatriotic
💡 Exam tip: patriot + -ic = patriotic.
comparable[/ˈkɒmpərəbl/]adjhard
Meaning: তুলনীয়
Alt: তুলনা করা যায় এমন
Example: The two results are comparable.
Syn: similarAnt: different
💡 Exam tip: -able means capable of being or suitable for.
invisible[/ɪnˈvɪzəbl/]adjmedium
Meaning: অদৃশ্য
Alt: দেখা যায় না এমন
Example: Air is invisible but essential for life.
Syn: unseenAnt: visible
💡 Exam tip: in- gives a negative meaning and -ible means able to be.
kindness[/ˈkaɪndnəs/]nouneasy
Meaning: দয়া; সদয়তা
Alt: ভালো ও সহানুভূতিশীল আচরণ
Example: Her kindness touched everyone.
Syn: benevolenceAnt: cruelty
💡 Exam tip: -ness forms an abstract noun from an adjective.
7. Suffixes: -ful and -ment (8 words)
powerful[/ˈpaʊəfəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: শক্তিশালী
Alt: প্রভাবশালী
Example: The powerful storm damaged several houses.
Syn: strongAnt: weak
💡 Exam tip: -ful means full of or having much of something.
helpful[/ˈhelpfəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: সহায়ক
Alt: উপকারী
Example: The guide gave us helpful advice.
Syn: usefulAnt: unhelpful
💡 Exam tip: help + -ful = helpful; the suffix changes the noun into an adjective.
handful[/ˈhændfʊl/]nounmedium
Meaning: এক মুঠো
Alt: হাতের তালুতে যতটা ধরে
Example: He picked up a handful of rice.
Syn: small amountAnt: large amount
💡 Exam tip: handful literally means full of a hand.
careful[/ˈkeəfəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: সতর্ক
Alt: সাবধানী
Example: Be careful while crossing the road.
Syn: cautiousAnt: careless
💡 Exam tip: care + -ful = careful.
payment[/ˈpeɪmənt/]nounmedium
Meaning: পরিশোধ; অর্থপ্রদান
Alt: দেওয়া অর্থ
Example: The payment must be made before delivery.
Syn: settlementAnt: nonpayment
💡 Exam tip: -ment forms a noun showing an action, process, or result.
punishment[/ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/]nouneasy
Meaning: শাস্তি
Alt: অপরাধের জন্য দণ্ড
Example: The punishment should be fair and reasonable.
Syn: penaltyAnt: reward
💡 Exam tip: punish + -ment = punishment.
encouragement[/ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒmənt/]nounhard
Meaning: উৎসাহ
Alt: সাহস বা সমর্থন
Example: Her teacher's encouragement improved her confidence.
Syn: supportAnt: discouragement
💡 Exam tip: encourage becomes encouragement by adding -ment and changing the spelling slightly.
development[/dɪˈveləpmənt/]nounmedium
Meaning: উন্নয়ন
Alt: বিকাশের প্রক্রিয়া
Example: Education is important for national development.
Syn: progressAnt: decline
💡 Exam tip: -ment commonly forms nouns from verbs.
💡 Exam Tips
• First identify the root word before separating the prefix or suffix.
• In fill-in-the-blanks, check whether the sentence needs a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.
• Use un-, dis-, in-, or im- carefully because they usually express negation, but not every word accepts every prefix.
• Remember the spelling change in big → bigger and run → running.
• Use -es after verbs or nouns ending in s, sh, ch, x, or o in many common cases.
• The suffix -ly usually changes an adjective into an adverb, as in short → shortly.
• Do not confuse a prefix with a suffix: a prefix comes before the root and a suffix comes after it.
• For transformation questions, preserve the meaning while changing the form of the word.
• In the story exercise, use received, comfortable, looking, raining, astonished, hearing, driver, offered, thankful, kindness, and politely.
• Learn both the meaning and the part of speech of each affixed word.
• For comparative adjectives, use -er with suitable short adjectives: tall → taller, big → bigger.
• Use a dictionary or context to decide whether a word formed with an affix is grammatically and semantically correct.