Root Words, Prefixes and Suffixes
What are root words?
• Root words are real words that mean
something on their own.
For example: like, cap, and luck are root
words.
• Root words are also words that form
new words when you add new parts to
them.
Some examples of root words…
like
cycle
tie
cap
turn
stop
Use root words to make new
words.
• Think of a puzzle piece.
• You add pieces to the puzzle piece to make
something new.
• The root word is your middle puzzle piece.
• Word parts called prefixes and suffixes
connect to the front or back to make a new
word.
What are prefixes?
• Prefixes are word parts that come at the
beginning of a root word.
• Prefixes are usually not real words on
their own.
For example, un is a prefix; you cannot use un by
itself in a sentence.
Some examples of prefixes…
inbidisresupertri-
Prefixes do mean something
• Although not a real word, every prefix
means something.
For example, bi means two
• By adding a prefix to the front of root
word, you change the meaning of the
root word.
Think of the engine at the front of a train.
For example…
un = not or the opposite of
clear = easy to understand, obvious
un + clear = unclear
Something that is unclear is not easy to
understand.
Examples of Common Prefixes
bi-
=
two
pre- =
dis- =
not,
reopposite of
in-
in, within
=
mis- =
=
super- =
bad, wrong un- =
before,
ahead of
again, back
bigger,
above,
better
not, do the
opposite
What are suffixes?
• Suffixes are word parts that come at the
end of a root word.
• Suffixes are usually, suffixes are not real
words on their own.
• For example, ly is a suffix; can you use ly
by itself in a sentence?
Some examples of suffixes…
-able
-er
-ful
-less
-like
-ness
Suffixes also have meanings
• Like prefixes, every suffix also has its
own meaning, or meanings.
• By adding a suffix to the end of a root
word, you change the meaning of the
root word.
Think of a caboose at the end of a train.
For example…
less = without
care = worry, concern
care + less = careless
Someone who is careless is without
worry or concern.
Examples of Common Suffixes
-able =
able to
-like =
like
something
-ate =
to make
-ly
in a certain
way
-ful =
full of
-ness =
a way of
being
-less =
without
-ship =
a way of
being
=
Knowing these word parts will help
you figure out word meanings.
The teacher was feeling agreeable and let the
class go outside for recess early.
You may not know what the meaning of the
root, agree.
Yet if you know able = likely to,
you know this means the teacher is likely to
agree.
Now look at the rest of the sentence
You know that the class went outside for
recess early.
So agreeable is probably a good thing,
which gets you closer to its meaning.
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