Worked example 1
Add -ly to ‘happy’
- happy ends in consonant + y.
- Change y to i, then add ly.
Answer: happily
English · Foundation
Prefixes and suffixes: meanings, spelling rules and worksheet
A prefix is a group of letters added to the start of a word (un + happy = unhappy). A suffix is added to the end (hope + ful = hopeful). Both change the meaning or the job of the word.
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Before you start
Who it's for and what to know first
Can read and spell common root words such as happy, kind, hope and run.
Learn it
How it works
- Common prefixes: un- and dis- mean ‘not’ (unkind, disagree); re- means ‘again’ (redo); im- means ‘not’ before m or p (impossible).
- Adding a prefix never changes the spelling of the root word: dis + appear = disappear.
- Common suffixes: -ful (full of), -less (without), -ness (turns an adjective into a noun), -ly (turns an adjective into an adverb).
- If the root ends in consonant + y, change y to i before most suffixes: happy → happily, happiness.
- Short words with one vowel and one final consonant double the consonant before -ing or -ed: run → running, hop → hopped.
- Words ending in e usually drop the e before -ing: make → making.
Worked example 2
Make the opposite of ‘possible’ with a prefix
- The word starts with p, so use im-.
Answer: impossible
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Practice questions
Tips
Common mistakes
- Dropping a letter when adding a prefix: ‘dissappear’ or ‘disapear’ — the root appear stays whole.
- Writing ‘happyly’ instead of ‘happily’.
- Forgetting to double: ‘runing’.
Last reviewed: 25 September 2026