40 VOCABULARY FOR TOEFL iBT
HERE’S A HINT
MEMORIZING PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES
You may try to save time by memorizing a difficult vocabulary word for each prefix
or suffix. However, you can quickly and accurately learn the most common prefixes
and suffixes by remembering examples of words you already know, such as coop-
erateand dismiss.Because the words are already so familiar to you, you don’t have
to worry about forgetting their meaning and you will be able to recall them easily
even while under the pressure of an exam.◗ Adjective Suffixes
-able, -ible: capable or worthy of; tending or liable to
dependable (worthy of being depended on, trustworthy), incredible (not credi-
ble; unable to be believed, improbable)-al, -ial, -ical: having the quality of, relating to, or characterized by
practical (of or relating to practice or action; useful), ethical (of or relating to
ethics or morals)- an, -ian: related to, characteristic of
humanitarian (relating to, or characteristic of a humanitarian), vegetarian
(relating to vegetarianism)
-ic: pertaining or relating to, having the quality of
dramatic (of or relating to drama, theatrical), realistic (of or relating to the rep-
resentation of things as they really are)-ile: having the qualities of
fragile (easily broken, damaged, or destroyed; frail), servile (pertaining to or
befitting a slave; abjectly submissive, slavish)-ish: having the character of
childish (characteristic of, pertaining to, or resembling a child), foolish (devoid
of good sense or judgment; exhibiting folly, in the manner of a fool)