Word Structure
Structure of a Word
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Prefix----root----suffix
In---comprehens----ible
Prefix----root
Un----common
Root----suffix
Happi----ness
Prefixes
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May be added to the beginning of a root word
Adds meaning to the root word
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Unhappy=NOT happy
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Negative Prefixes
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All negative prefixes mean “NO” or
“NOT”, or reverse the meaning of
the root word.
Negative Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example
un
dis
in
Im (m,o,p)
Ir (r)
Il (l)
non
mis
not
not
not
not
not
not
not
not
unhappy
disappear
indefinite
immortal
irresponsible
illegal
Non-toxic
misspell
Number Prefixes
Prefix
Hemi
semi
mono
uni
Meth (science)
Meaning
1/2
1/2
1
1
1
Example
hemisphere
Semi-circle
monologue
unison
methane
Number Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example
di
2
diploid
du
2
duplex
bi
2
bicycle
Eth (science)
2
ethane
Pro (science)
3
propane
tri
3
triangle
Number Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example
tetra
4
tetragon
quar
4
Quart, quarter
quad
4
quadrilateral
But (science)
4
butane
pent
5
pentane
Number Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example
hex
6
hexagon
sept
7
septennial
hept
7
heptathlon
oct
8
octave
nov
9
November
Non (science)
9
Nonagon
Number Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example
dec
10
decade
cent
100
century
mill
1000
millennium
kilo
1000
kilogram
poly
many
polytheism
multi
many
multipurpose
Time and Place Prefixes 1
Prefix
post
trans
Meaning
after
across
Example
Post-prom
dia
sub
anti
contra
pre
circum
across
under
against
against
before
around
diagonal
submarine
Anti-war
contradict
Pre-game
circumference
transcontinental
Time and Place 1
Prefix
Meaning
Example
inter
between
interstate
intra
within
intramurals
in
into
inspect
e
out
emit
ex
out
exit
Time and Place 2
Prefix
Meaning
Example
ad
toward
advance
at
toward
attach
ag
toward
aggressive
Time and Place 2
Prefix
Meaning
Example
ab
away
Abstain,
absent
dis
Away, off
dismount
De
Se
Away, off
Depart, detour
Separate
Time and Place 2
Prefix
Meaning
para
Beside, similar paraphrase
retro
back
retroactive
re
Back
again
together
Return
redo
cooperate
together
Company
connect
co
Com
con
Example
Time and Place 2
Prefix
Meaning
Example
Sym, syn
together
symphony
Sym, syn
same
Synonym,
symmetry
Intensifying Prefixes
Prefix
super
hyper
ultra
hypo
homo
hetero
bene
mal
Meaning
Above, beyond
Above, beyond
Above, beyond
Below normal
same
different
good
bad
Example
supervisor
hyperactive
Ultra light
hypothermia
homogenous
heterogeneous
benefit
malnutrition
Questions to Ponder
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How old is a superannuated person?
What does “homogenized” milk look like?
How does an malcontent act?
If your name is Sam, and your friend’s name is
homonymous, what is his name?
Describe a shirt that is heterochromatic.
What is hypothermia?
Prefixes with More Than One
Meaning (Summary)
Prefix
Meaning
Example
in
Into
not
Not
Off, away
Together
same
Three (science)
Forward
Inhale
incorrect
Disagree
dismount
Symphony
synonym
Propane
Procedure
dis
Sym, syn
pro