Which statement correctly describes prefixes and suffixes?

Which statement correctly describes prefixes and suffixes?

• A. Are added to base words, either at the beginning or end of the word.
• B. Are added only to the end of base words.
• C. Do not change the meaning of the word.
• D. Are added to base words, but only in the middle.

Answer: (B)

Prefixes and suffixes are affixes added to base words to change meaning or the part of speech. Prefixes attach to the beginning of a base word, while suffixes attach to the end. This lets you form new words or adjust how a word functions, such as un- + happy = unhappy, happy + -ness = happiness, and run + -ing = running. Because they can appear at either end, describing them as only being added to the end isn’t accurate. Understanding this helps you see how word meaning and grammar shift with these little word-builders.

Prefixes and suffixes are affixes added to base words to change meaning or the part of speech. Prefixes attach to the beginning of a base word, while suffixes attach to the end. This lets you form new words or adjust how a word functions, such as un- + happy = unhappy, happy + -ness = happiness, and run + -ing = running. Because they can appear at either end, describing them as only being added to the end isn’t accurate. Understanding this helps you see how word meaning and grammar shift with these little word-builders.