An affix is a set of letters generally added to the beginning or end of a root word to modify its meaning. The root is the portion of the word that remains when all prefixes and suffixes have been removed. Typically, they can stand alone. In the word untouchable, “touch” is the root.

The two main types of affixes are prefixes and suffixes. In the “untouchable” example above, “un-” is the prefix and “-able” is the suffix. For another example, let’s examine the root word reserve. Thanks to affixes, it can be transformed into unreserved by the prefix “un-” or even unreservedly by the suffixes “-ed” and “-ly.” If you ever find yourself wondering, “What are the types of affixes?” we’re about to lay it all out for you.

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