What are affixes?

Affixes are linguistic morphemes that are added to a base word or root to modify its meaning or create new words. They can be prefixes, which are attached to the beginning of a word, or suffixes, which are added to the end. This process allows for the alteration of a word's meaning or grammatical function, making it an essential part of word formation in the English language.

For example, in the word "unhappiness," the prefix "un-" modifies the base word "happy," while the suffix "-ness" creates a noun from an adjective. The ability to manipulate words with affixes is crucial for vocabulary development and comprehension in language learning. Understanding how affixes work is fundamental for students as they enhance their reading and writing skills by recognizing how meanings of words can change with different prefixes and suffixes.