For some affixes, meaning differences correlate directly with the word class of the base. An example is the verbalising prefix be- whose meaning can be characterised as follows (the variable x represents the base):

• [[be](CN)[x](V)](V) ↔ [to focus action SEM(V) upon something], read as: if x is a verb, then interpret is as ‘to focus the action x upon something’ (e.g. kyk to look > be·kykto look at).
• [[be](VBZ)[x](N)](V) ↔ [to provide with SEM(N)], read as: if x is a noun, then interpret it as ‘to provide with x’ (e.g. manman > be·manto man (a ship)).
• [[be](VBZ)[x](ADJ)](V) ↔ [to be/become/make SEM(ADJ)], read as: if x is an adjective, then interpret it as ‘to be/become/make x’ (e.g. veiligsafe > be·veiligto protect.)

While not every be- verb fits these patterns, each of the three systematic meaning correlations is typical for one particular input category.

Differences in meaning do not always align with the word sort of the base. The suffix –agtig, for example, can be associated with a variety of meanings, three of which are typical for nominal bases.

Where such polysemy exists within a category, it is often the case that only one of the semantic patterns is productive. An example is the prefix ge-, which exists in a substantial number of deverbal nouns, such as ge·bakpastry < bakto bake, ge·boubuilding < bouto build, ge·sprekconversation < spreekto talk. In these ge- nominalisations, the semantic relations between prefix and base are manifold, and none of the patterns is productive. However, note the following productive pattern: [[ge](NMLZ)[x](V)](N) ↔ [continuous SEM(V)] (often with a pejorative meaning). Examples are ge·trommelcontinuous drumming < trommelto drum, ge·lagcontinuous laughing < lagto laugh. The freedom of deriving new ge- nouns of this sort can lead to polysemous formations such as ge·voel which means feeling, emotion (from voelto feel), but could also mean continuous feeling, or less literal excessive emotionality. Sometimes an older form can be distinguished from a younger, productive formation by a difference in the stem vowel. Compare ge·sing(continuous) singing (pejorative connotation) versus ge·sang singing (no particular connotations). The latter form has ablaut, which is no longer productive in Afrikaans and Dutch.