Roots and Affixes
Vocabulary Instruction
R1E
Understanding Roots and Affixes


Affixes include prefixes and suffixes and
combined with root words and base words.
They can quickly multiply the number of
words you know.
It is more efficient to memorize the meaning
of these word parts than to memorize
definitions that you will end up forgetting in a
few days anyway.
Word Roots (can’t stand on own)



A word’s root is the part of the word that
carries the most meaning.
Latin and Greek roots are extremely
important in unlocking vocabulary you never
knew before.
For example if you know that there are two
Latin words that mean “light”- luc and lumyou can at least begin to figure out the words
on the following slide.
Luc and Lum practice
Luminous

radiating or reflecting light
Lucid

easily understood, clear perception or
understanding
Translucent

clear, easily understandable
Illuminate

To supply with light, to enlighten as with
knowledge

a celestial body (sun or moon), a body or object
that gives off light
Luminary
Affixes: prefixes and suffixes
It might have helped you on some of these
words to know some affixes for example:

-ous is a suffix that creates an adjective

Trans- means across or through

Il- means not
Prefixes



Prefixes can be added to the beginnings of
many words to change the word’s meaning.
For example, the prefix un- gives the
opposite meaning to any word it is added to.
Some prefixes have more than one meaning
but having these memorized will enable your
vocabulary to transcend its normal range.
Suffixes



A suffix is placed at the end of a word or part
of a word.
When you add suffixes you often change the
word’s function (part of speech) as well as its
meaning.
Check out the example on the next slide.
Suffixes
WORD
FUNCTION
MEANING
Clamant
Adjective
Noisy
Clamorer
Noun
One who makes noise
Clamor
Verb
To make loud sounds
Claimant
Noun
A person who makes a claim
Exclaimed
Verb
Shouted suddenly
Exclamation
Noun
Noisy talk; outcry
Exclamatory
Adjective
Expressing emotion
Putting words together


Knowing your roots and
affixes is good start to
mastering the word parts and
overcoming your lack of
vocabulary, and here are
some helpful tips to help.
LISTEN UP!
Most words in English are built from at
least one root:
– Narrate
– Mariner
– Scribe
– Lunar
– Serve
– Vagrant
Words do not always have both a
prefix and a suffix.

Words with neither
– Sleep
– Light
– Plead
– Eat
– Mold

Words with one prefix
– Promote
– Retract
– Consent

Words with one suffix
– Signal
– Creation
– Mechanize
Words can have more than one root,
prefix, or suffix

Words with 2 roots:
– Anthropology
– Barometer
– Photograph
– Psychology

Words with 2 prefixes:
–
–
–

Unenlightened
Intercontinental
Deconstruct
Words with 2 suffixes:
–
–
–
Anonymously
Mindlessly
brightened
Often the spelling of a base word changes
with it is combined with a prefix or suffix

Brief

Brevity

Move

Mobile

Exclaim

Exclamation
Some more helpful tips:
1.
2.
Collect Roots and Related Words (I have
attached and handed you a very
comprehensive list to start with)
Play Word Games (here are some online
sites)
1.
2.
3.
4.
3.
Vocabulary.com
Visual vocabulary
Prefixes video
Roots and Their Families Part I and Part II
Use the words
The End