English

Prefixes and Suffixes: Practice Questions with Answers

11 practice questions on Prefixes and Suffixes, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.

Read the lesson on this topic →

1. Q.1

   Add the correct suffix to turn the adjective "simple" into a verb meaning "to make simple": simple + ___?

   Show answer

   Answer: -ify (simplify)

   Solution:

   1. The verb-forming suffix "-ify" attaches to "simpl-" (dropping the final "e").
   2. simplify

   Report this question

2. Q.2

   Add the correct prefix to make "agree" mean the opposite: ___agree.

   Show answer

   Answer: dis- (disagree)

   Solution:

   1. "Agree" takes the negative prefix "dis-".
   2. disagree

   Report this question

3. Q.3

   Add the correct suffix to turn the adjective "quick" into an adverb: quick + ___?

   Show answer

   Answer: -ly (quickly)

   Solution:

   1. The adverb-forming suffix "-ly" attaches to "quick".
   2. quickly

   Report this question

4. Q.4

   Add the correct suffix to turn the adjective "kind" into a noun meaning "the quality of being kind": kind + ___?

   Show answer

   Answer: -ness (kindness)

   Solution:

   1. The noun-forming suffix "-ness" attaches to "kind".
   2. kindness

   Report this question

5. Q.5

   Add the correct suffix to turn the verb "act" into a noun meaning "the process or result of acting": act + ___ ?

   Show answer

   Answer: -ion (action)

   Solution:

   1. The noun-forming suffix "-ion" attaches to "act".
   2. action

   Report this question

6. Q.6

   Which prefix turns "possible" into its opposite, "impossible"? ___possible.

   Show answer

   Answer: im- (impossible)

   Solution:

   1. The negative prefix is normally "in-", but it changes to "im-" before a word starting with p, b or m.
   2. "possible" starts with p, so the prefix is "im-".

   Report this question

7. Q.7

   Add the correct suffix to turn the adjective "happy" into an adverb: happy + ___?

   Show answer

   Answer: -ly (happily)

   Report this question

8. Q.8

   Which prefix means "before" and turns "historic" into "before recorded history"? ___historic.

   Show answer

   Answer: pre- (prehistoric)

   Report this question

9. Q.9

   Add the correct suffix to turn the adjective "modern" into a verb meaning "to make modern": modern + ___?

   Show answer

   Answer: -ize (modernize)

   Report this question

10. Q.10

    Add the correct suffix to turn "teach" into a noun meaning "a person who teaches": teach + ___?

    Show answer

    Answer: -er (teacher)

    Report this question

11. Q.11

    Add the correct prefix to make "legal" mean the opposite: ___legal.

    Show answer

    Answer: il- (illegal)

    Report this question

Practise this topic →