Affixes are a type of word structure used to modify a word’s meaning or function. There are two types of affixes: inflectional and derivational. Both types of affixes are used to form new words, but the processes involved in each are different. Understanding the distinction between the two can help you better understand how words are formed in English.
Inflectional Affixes
Inflectional affixes are used to indicate grammatical information about a word, such as its tense, number, gender, and case. These affixes do not change the meaning of the word, but instead indicate how the word is used in a sentence. Common examples of inflectional affixes include -s (used to indicate plural nouns), -ed (used to indicate the past tense of a verb), and -ly (used to indicate an adverb).
The primary purpose of inflectional affixes is to indicate the grammatical function of a word in a sentence. For example, the word “walk” can be changed to “walked” to indicate that the action is in the past tense. Similarly, the word “cat” can be changed to “cats” to indicate that there is more than one cat.
Derivational Affixes
Derivational affixes are used to create new words that are related to the existing word. These affixes are used to indicate changes in meaning or function. Common examples of derivational affixes include -ful (used to indicate something is full of a certain quality), -less (used to indicate something is without a certain quality), and -ize (used to indicate the process of making something).
The primary purpose of derivational affixes is to create new words that are related to an existing word. For example, the word “beauty” can be changed to “beautiful” to indicate that something is full of beauty. Similarly, the word “happy” can be changed to “unhappy” to indicate that someone is without happiness.
In summary, inflectional and derivational affixes are both used to create new words, but the processes involved in each are different. Inflectional affixes are used to indicate grammatical information about a word, while derivational affixes are used to create new words that are related to the existing word. Understanding