Prefijos y sufijos

Es bastante frecuente el uso del sufijo -ful para formar adjetivos en inglés:

wonder (maravilla) > wonderful (maravilloso)
help (ayuda) > helpful (útil, servicial)
peace (paz) > peaceful (pacífico)
harm (daño) > harmful (dañino)
pain (dolor) > painful (doloroso)

También se utiliza bastante el sufijo -ly para formar adverbios (equivaldría al -mente del español)

complete (completo) > completely (completamente)
slow (lento) > slowly (lentamente)
easy (fácil ) > easily (fácilmente)
actual (real) > actually (realmente, en realidad)
sad (triste) > sadly (tristemente)

El sujijo -ness nos sirve para formar nombres abstractos a partir de adjetivos:

happy (feliz) > happiness (felicidad)
dark (oscuro) > darkness (oscuridad)
sad (triste) > sadness ( tristeza)
good (bueno) > goodness (bondad)
lonely (solo, solitario) > loneliness (soledad)

Los prefijos un-, im- (seguido de p), in-, i- (seguido de l) son negativos (en español in-, im- i-), y nos sirver para formar el antónimo (opposite) de una palabra.

happy (feliz) > unhappy (infeliz, triste)
possible (posible ) > impossible (imposible)
sensitive (sensible) > insensitive (insensible)
legal (legal) > illegal (ilegal)

Ejercicio: intenta saber el significado de las siguientes palabras sin el uso del diccionario.

use (uso, usar) > useful:
polite (educado) > impolite:
bald (calvo) > baldness:
blind (ciego) > blindness:
dress (vestirse) > undress:
conscious (consciente) > unconscious:
conscious (consciente) > consciuousness:
quick (rápido) > quickly:
thank (gracias, agradecer) > thankful:
tidy (ordenado) > untidy:

Ejercicio de conectores

Choose the correct link in brackets:

About 300 years ago, in Salem, Massachusetts, a terrible witch-hunt took place. Many people were put in prison (1. because of, in order to, since) prejudice and fear. (2. Moreover, Whereas, For example, Beside), several women were accused of being witches, and "wicth-finders" began their terrible work of hunting them down (3. because of, in order to, although) punish them. The witch-finders used many methods of torture (4. so that, in order to, because of) make the prisoners admit that they were witches. Those who refuse to do so were hanged.

(5. Therefore, Owing to, So that, Finally) pressure by Boston´s church leaders, who were worried by the events in Salem, the governor of Massachusetts decided to stop the witch-hunts. (6. Although, However, Despite), by the time 19 people had already been hanged, an one tortured to death.

In 1992, the town of Salem decided to build a memorial to these victims (7. so, so that, in order to) remind people how dangerous prejudice can be.