Prefixes and Suffixes (Upsarg and Pratyay)
Word Formation in Language I
Overview
Prefixes and suffixes—called upsarg and pratyay in Sanskrit-derived grammatical terminology—are the building blocks of word formation in Indian languages and English alike. Understanding how these affixes attach to root words (prakrti or dhatu) is essential for vocabulary expansion, comprehension of unseen passages, and answering grammar-based questions in Language I.
For Assam TET Paper I and II, questions on upsarg and pratyay typically test your ability to identify the affix in a given word, form new words by adding appropriate affixes, or determine how meaning changes when an affix is added. This topic directly supports reading comprehension, as recognising word parts helps decode unfamiliar vocabulary.
Mastery requires memorising common prefixes and suffixes, understanding their meanings, and practising word formation. Since Language I can be Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Hindi, or English, this guide covers principles applicable across languages with specific examples from Hindi (most commonly examined) and English.
Key Concepts
- Root Word (Prakrti/Dhatu): The base word to which affixes attach. In Hindi, "लिख" (likh - to write) is a dhatu; in English, "write" is the root.
- Prefix (Upsarg): An affix added before the root word. It modifies meaning but usually does not change the grammatical category. Example: "अ + न्याय = अन्याय" (a + nyay = anyay, meaning injustice).
- Suffix (Pratyay): An affix added after the root word. It often changes the word class (verb to noun, noun to adjective). Example: "लिख + आवट = लिखावट" (likh + avat = likhavat, meaning handwriting).
- Tatsam vs Tadbhav Affixes: In Hindi/Assamese/Bengali, some affixes come directly from Sanskrit (tatsam), while others evolved through Prakrit (tadbhav). Both types appear in exams.
- Meaning Modification: Prefixes typically alter meaning—negation (अ/un-), repetition (पुन/re-), direction (प्र/pre-). Suffixes often indicate quality, doer, state, or grammatical function.
- No Standalone Meaning: Neither upsarg nor pratyay can stand alone as meaningful words—they must attach to a root.
- Multiple Affixation: A single word can have both prefix and suffix. Example: "अ + सफल + ता = असफलता" (a + safal + ta = asafalta, meaning failure).
Formulas / Key Facts
Common Hindi Prefixes (Upsarg)
| Upsarg | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| अ | negation | अधर्म (irreligion) |
| अन | negation before vowel | अनपढ़ (illiterate) |
| प्र | forward/excellence | प्रगति (progress) |
| अप | bad/away | अपमान (insult) |
| सु | good | सुगम (easy) |
| दुर/दुस | bad/difficult | दुर्गम (inaccessible) |
| वि | special/opposite | विदेश (foreign) |
| नि | down/without | निर्धन (poor) |
| परि | around | परिवार (family) |
| अति | excess | अतिरिक्त (extra) |
Common Hindi Suffixes (Pratyay)
| Pratyay | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ता | forms abstract noun | मनुष्यता (humanity) |
| त्व | forms abstract noun | मातृत्व (motherhood) |
| आई | forms noun from verb | लड़ाई (fight) |
| आवट | forms noun from verb | सजावट (decoration) |
| इक | forms adjective | धार्मिक (religious) |
| ईय | forms adjective | राष्ट्रीय (national) |
| वान/वाला | possessor | बलवान (strong) |
| कार | doer | कलाकार (artist) |
| इत | past participle | लिखित (written) |
Common English Prefixes
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| un- | not | unhappy |
| re- | again | rewrite |
| pre- | before | preview |
| mis- | wrongly | misunderstand |
| dis- | opposite | disagree |
| in-/im-/il-/ir- | not | impossible, illegal |
Common English Suffixes
| Suffix | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ness | noun from adjective | happiness |
| -tion/-sion | noun from verb | creation |
| -able/-ible | adjective (capable) | readable |
| -ly | adverb from adjective | quickly |
| -er/-or | doer | teacher |
| -ful | full of | hopeful |
| -less | without | careless |
Worked Examples
Example 1: Identify prefix and root (Hindi)
Question: Identify the upsarg in "अपयश" and give its meaning.
Solution:
- Word: अपयश
- Split: अप + यश
- Root: यश (fame)
- Prefix: अप (meaning bad/opposite)
- Full meaning: bad fame, infamy
- Answer: Upsarg = अप, meaning = opposite/bad
Example 2: Form words using suffix (Hindi)
Question: Add appropriate pratyay to "पढ़" to form a noun meaning "study/reading."
Solution:
- Root verb: पढ़ (to read)
- Add suffix: आई
- New word: पढ़ाई (study, reading)
- Word class changed: verb → noun
- Answer: पढ़ाई
Example 3: Multiple affixation (English)
Question: Identify the prefix and suffix in "unhappiness."
Solution:
- Word: unhappiness
- Root: happy (adjective)
- Prefix: un- (meaning not)
- Suffix: -ness (forms abstract noun)
- Structure: un + happy + ness
- Meaning: state of not being happy
- Answer: Prefix = un-, Suffix = -ness
Common Mistakes
- Confusing prefix with first syllable: Students mistake the first syllable of any word as prefix. Correction: A prefix must be a recognised affix that changes meaning. "विद्या" has no prefix—"वि" here is not separable.
- Adding incompatible affixes: Using Sanskrit affixes with tadbhav roots or vice versa. Correction: Match affix type with root type. "सुलड़का" is wrong; "सुपुत्र" is correct (Sanskrit affix with Sanskrit root).
- Ignoring spelling changes: In English, doubling consonants or dropping final -e before suffixes is often forgotten. Correction: "run + ing = running" (double n), "write + ing = writing" (drop e).
- Assuming all -ता/-त्व words have the same pratyay: Students confuse when to use ता versus त्व. Correction: Both form abstract nouns, but त्व typically attaches to nouns ending in consonants and has Sanskrit preference.
- Forgetting negation prefix changes: In English, using "un-" universally for negation. Correction: Different roots require different negative prefixes—"impossible" not "unpossible," "illegal" not "unlegal."
Quick Reference
- Upsarg (prefix) = added before root; modifies meaning, rarely changes word class.
- Pratyay (suffix) = added after root; often changes word class (verb → noun, noun → adjective).
- अ/अन in Hindi and un-/in- in English are the most common negation prefixes.
- ता/त्व (Hindi) and -ness/-tion (English) are the most frequent noun-forming suffixes.
- Neither prefix nor suffix can stand alone—they need a root word.
- When in doubt, check if removing the suspected affix leaves a valid root word.