Affixes

Affixes are morphemes added at the end (suffixes) or at the beginning of a word base in order to modify its meaning and also change its part of speech. 

Prefixes and suffixes are a good way to learn new vocabulary by forming word families adding those to a word. Sometimes it is difficult to many students to get the meaning of new words when they are reading a text or listening to a conversation and it is no easy to learn new vocabulary However, teaching affixation in class can change this fact and help students to recognize, learn and form new words.   According to Hatch (1983) affixes are organized in the human mind differently from lexical items, therefore it is a good way to teach vocabulary to students in class. For example, we can use a word base like: 

·         comfort is a noun but by adding the suffix "able" uncomfortable it changes into an adjective

·         by adding a prefix "un" uncomfortable" it changes it meaning in to a negative connotation. 

Thus, students can learn a great deal of vocabulary easily and not only they can understand the meaning of the words in reading and listening but also they can form new words at the moment of speaking and writing and improve their accuracy and fluency 

References 

• Hatch, E. (1983). Simplified input and second language acquisition. (pp. 64–88). Rowley, MA: Newbury House.
•  Cambridge dictionary. Retrieved from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/