Unlike roots, affixes are always bound forms. The differences between suffixes and prefixes is not confined to their respective position, suffixes being "fixed after" and prefixes "fixed before" the stem. It also concerns their function and meaning.

A suffix is a derivational morpheme following the stem and forming a new derivative in a different part of speech or a different word class, c f. - e n, - y, - l e s s 

in h e a r t e n, h e a r t y, h e a r t l e s s .

A prefix is a derivational morpheme standing before the root and modifying meaning, c f.

h e a r t e n - d i s h e a r t e n. It is only with verbs and statives that a prefix may serve to distinguish one part of speech from another, like in e a r t h (n)- u n e a r t h (v), s l e e p (n) - a s l e e p (stative).

Preceding a verb stem, some prefixes express the difference between a transitive and an intransitive verb: s t a y  v and

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