Explain the concept of prefixes and suffixes and provide examples.

Prefixes and suffixes are affixes, which are added to the beginning or end of a base word to create a new word with a different meaning. They are important components of word formation and can significantly alter the meaning or function of a word.

A prefix is a type of affix that is added to the beginning of a base word. It changes the meaning or creates a new word by indicating various aspects such as negation, time, location, quantity, or intensity. Here are some examples of prefixes:

1. Un-: This prefix is used to indicate the opposite or absence of something. For example, "happy" becomes "unhappy" to indicate the opposite of happiness.
2. Re-: This prefix is used to indicate repetition or restoration. For instance, "do" becomes "redo" to indicate doing something again.
3. Pre-: This prefix is used to indicate something that occurs before or prior to something else. For example, "war" becomes "prewar" to indicate a time before the war.
4. Mis-: This prefix is used to indicate something done incorrectly or wrongly. For instance, "understand" becomes "misunderstand" to indicate a failure in comprehension.

On the other hand, a suffix is an affix that is added to the end of a base word. It can change the word's part of speech, tense, or meaning. Here are some examples of suffixes:

1. -er: This suffix is used to indicate a person or thing that performs a particular action. For example, "teach" becomes "teacher" to indicate someone who teaches.
2. -able: This suffix is used to indicate the ability or capacity of something. For instance, "read" becomes "readable" to indicate that a text can be easily read.
3. -ing: This suffix is used to indicate an ongoing action or a present participle. For example, "run" becomes "running" to indicate the act of running.
4. -less: This suffix is used to indicate the absence or lack of something. For instance, "hope" becomes "hopeless" to indicate a lack of hope.

In summary, prefixes and suffixes are affixes that are added to base words to create new words with altered meanings or functions. Prefixes are added to the beginning of a word, while suffixes are added to the end. They play a crucial role in expanding vocabulary and understanding the nuances of language.