Prefixes, suffixes and root words

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What are Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes?

A root word is the main part of a word that carries its basic meaning. For example, in 'happy', 'happy' is the root.
A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a root word to change its meaning. For example, adding 'un-' to 'happy' makes 'unhappy'.
A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a root word to change its meaning or how the word is used. For example, adding '-ness' to 'happy' makes 'happiness'.
Prefixes and suffixes are both types of affixes – a general name for letters added to a root word.
When you add a prefix or suffix, you create a new word with a new meaning.

Common Prefixes and Their Meanings

un- means 'not' – for example, 'unhappy' means 'not happy'.
dis- means 'not' or 'opposite of' – for example, 'disagree' means 'not agree'.
re- means 'again' – for example, 'redo' means 'do again'.
pre- means 'before' – for example, 'preview' means 'view before'.
mis- means 'wrongly' – for example, 'misbehave' means 'behave wrongly'.
in- means 'not' – for example, 'incorrect' means 'not correct'.
sub- means 'under' – for example, 'submarine' means 'under the sea'.
super- means 'above' or 'more than' – for example, 'superhero' means 'a hero above others'.
anti- means 'against' – for example, 'anti-freeze' means 'against freezing'.
auto- means 'self' – for example, 'autograph' means 'self-writing'.

Common Suffixes and Their Meanings

-ing makes a verb show an action happening now – for example, 'running'.
-ed makes a verb show a past action – for example, 'jumped'.
-er can mean 'a person who does something' – for example, 'teacher' means 'one who teaches'.
-ly turns an adjective into an adverb – for example, 'quickly' from 'quick'.
-ful means 'full of' – for example, 'joyful' means 'full of joy'.
-less means 'without' – for example, 'careless' means 'without care'.
-ness turns an adjective into a noun – for example, 'kindness' from 'kind'.
-ment turns a verb into a noun – for example, 'enjoyment' from 'enjoy'.
-ation turns a verb into a noun – for example, 'information' from 'inform'.
-ous means 'full of' or 'having' – for example, 'dangerous' means 'full of danger'.

How Prefixes and Suffixes Change Meaning

Adding a prefix changes the meaning of the root word. For example, 'happy' becomes 'unhappy' (not happy).
Adding a suffix can change the word class – for example, 'happy' (adjective) becomes 'happiness' (noun).
Sometimes adding a suffix changes the spelling of the root word. For example, 'run' becomes 'running' (double the 'n').
You can often guess the meaning of a new word by looking at its parts. For example, 'preview' means 'see before' because 'pre-' means 'before' and 'view' means 'see'.

Spelling Rules When Adding Suffixes

Doubling a consonant: If a word ends with a consonant-vowel-consonant (like 'run'), double the last letter before adding a suffix that starts with a vowel (e.g., 'running').
Dropping silent e: If a word ends with a silent 'e' (like 'make'), drop the 'e' before adding a suffix that starts with a vowel (e.g., 'making').
Changing y to i: If a word ends with a consonant + 'y' (like 'happy'), change the 'y' to 'i' before adding a suffix that doesn't start with 'i' (e.g., 'happiness').
These rules help keep the spelling correct when you add suffixes.

Using Word Parts to Understand New Words

When you see an unfamiliar word, break it into its root, prefix, and suffix.
For example, 'disagreeable' – 'dis-' (not) + 'agree' (root) + '-able' (able to be) means 'not able to be agreed with'.
Knowing common prefixes and suffixes helps you figure out meanings without a dictionary.
Practice by making new words: take a root like 'play' and add prefixes and suffixes to make 'replay', 'player', 'playful'.

Practice with Examples

un + kind = unkind – 'not kind'.
re + write = rewrite – 'write again'.
pre + school = preschool – 'before school'.
mis + spell = misspell – 'spell wrongly'.
care + less = careless – 'without care'.
help + ful = helpful – 'full of help'.
move + ment = movement – 'the act of moving'.

Why Learn Prefixes and Suffixes?

They help you understand the meanings of many new words.
They help you spell words correctly by following rules.
They make your writing more interesting by using a wider vocabulary.
They are a key part of learning English in Grade 4.

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1.What do we call a word part that is added to the beginning of a root word?
Easy
- Aprefix
- Bsuffix
- Croot
- Daffix
2.What do we call a word part that is added to the end of a root word?
Easy
- Aprefix
- Bsuffix
- Croot
- Dbase
3.Which prefix means 'again'?
Easy
- Aun-
- Bre-
- Cpre-
- Ddis-
4.Which suffix turns a verb into a noun meaning 'the act of'? For example, 'enjoy' becomes 'enjoyment'.
Easy
- A-ly
- B-er
- C-ment
- D-ful
5.Which of the following words have a prefix that means 'not'? (Select all that apply)
Easy
- Aunhappy
- Bdislike
- Creplay
- Dpreview
6.Adding the suffix '-less' to a word makes it mean 'full of' that word.
Easy
True or false?
7.Which word is spelled correctly?
Medium
- Arunning
- Bruning
- Crunnning
8.What does the word 'prehistoric' mean?
Medium
- Abefore history
- Bafter history
- Cfull of history
- Dwithout history

Plus de questions

9.Which word means 'to spell incorrectly'?
Medium
- Amisspell
- Brespell
- Cunspell
- Dprespell
10.Match each prefix to its meaning.
Medium
- un-
- re-
- pre-
- not
- again
- before
11.Put the parts of the word 'unhelpful' in order from left to right.
Medium
- un-
- help
- -ful
12.The prefix 'dis-' can mean 'not' or 'opposite of'.
Easy
True or false?
13.Which word means 'to view before'?
Medium
- Apreview
- Breview
- Cunview
- Ddisview
14.What is the root word in 'unhappily'?
Easy
- Aun
- Bhappy
- Cily
- Dunhappy
15.Which word has a prefix that means 'not'?
Easy
- Areplay
- Bdislike
- Cpreview
- Dsubmarine
16.Which of the following words have the suffix '-ful'? (select all that apply)
Medium
- Acareful
- Bhopeful
- Cuseless
- Dkindness
- Eplayful
17.The prefix 'pre-' means 'after'.
Easy
True or false?
18.Put the parts of the word 'unhelpful' in the correct order from left to right.
Medium
- help
- un
- ful
19.Which word uses the prefix 'un-' to mean 'not tidy'?
Easy
- Auntidy
- Bretidy
- Cpretidy
- Ddis tidy
20.Which sentence uses the correct word?
Medium
- AShe was happy because she had a carefree day.
- BShe was happy because she had a careful day.
- CShe was happy because she had a careless day.
- DShe was happy because she had a caring day.
21.Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: 'The teacher asked us to ___ the story before we write our own.'
Medium
- Arewrite
- Bunwrite
- Cmiswrite
- Dprewrite
22.The suffix '-less' means 'full of'.
Easy
True or false?
23.Put the parts of the word 'replaying' in the correct order from left to right.
Easy
- re-
- play
- -ing
24.Which sentence uses the word 'disappear' correctly?
Medium
- AThe magician made the rabbit disappear.
- BThe magician made the rabbit reappear.
- CThe magician made the rabbit preappear.
- DThe magician made the rabbit unappear.
25.Read this sentence: 'The magician made the rabbit disappear.' What does the prefix 'dis-' do to the root word 'appear'?
Easy
- AIt changes the meaning to 'not appear' or 'vanish'.
- BIt changes the meaning to 'appear again'.
- CIt changes the meaning to 'appear before'.
- DIt changes the meaning to 'appear wrongly'.
26.Read this sentence: 'The teacher asked us to rewrite our answers because they were incorrect.' Which words in the sentence have a prefix? (Select all that apply)
Easy
- Arewrite
- Bteacher
- Cincorrect
- Danswers
- Ebecause
27.In the word 'unhappy', the root word is 'happy' and the prefix 'un-' changes its meaning to 'not happy'.
Easy
True or false?
28.Match each prefix to its meaning. Draw a line from each prefix to the correct meaning.
Medium
- un-
- re-
- pre-
- not
- again
- before
29.Put the parts of the word 'preview' in the correct order from left to right.
Medium
- view
- pre-
30.Read this sentence: 'The scientist studied the prehistoric bones.' What does the prefix 'pre-' suggest about the bones?
Medium
- AThe bones are from a time before written history.
- BThe bones are from a time after written history.
- CThe bones are not real.
- DThe bones are from the future.
31.Read this sentence: 'The careless driver caused an accident.' What does the suffix '-less' do to the root word 'care'?
Medium
- AIt makes the word mean 'without care'.
- BIt makes the word mean 'full of care'.
- CIt makes the word mean 'care again'.
- DIt makes the word mean 'one who cares'.
32.Read this sentence: 'The helpful assistant quickly finished the task.' Which words in the sentence have a suffix? (Select all that apply)
Medium
- Ahelpful
- Bassistant
- Cquickly
- Dfinished
- Etask
33.In the word 'disagree', the prefix 'dis-' means 'again'.
Medium
True or false?
34.What is the term for a word part that is added to the beginning of a root word?
Easy
- Aprefix
- Bsuffix
- Croot
- Daffix
35.What is the term for a word part that is added to the end of a root word?
Easy
- Aprefix
- Bsuffix
- Croot
- Daffix
36.Which prefix means 'not' or 'opposite of'?
Easy
- Are-
- Bun-
- Cpre-
- Dmis-
37.Which suffix is used to form the past tense of a verb?
Easy
- A-ing
- B-ed
- C-er
- D-ly
38.In the word 'preview', what does the prefix 'pre-' mean?
Easy
- Aafter
- Bbefore
- Cagain
- Dnot
39.Which of the following words contains the suffix '-ness'?
Medium
- Ahappiness
- Bcareless
- Cquickly
- Dteacher
40.Which word is the root word in 'unhelpful'?
Medium
- Aun
- Bhelp
- Cful
- Dhelpful
41.Fill in the blank with the correct prefix or suffix.
Easy
The word '____' means 'not visible'.
42.What is the root word in 'unhelpful'?
Easy
43.Fill in the blank with a word that uses the prefix 'sub-'.
Medium
A train that runs under the ground is called a ____.
44.What is the suffix in the word 'quickly'?
Easy
45.Fill in the blank with the correct word.
Medium
The opposite of 'appear' is ____.
46.Add a prefix to each root word to make a new word that matches the meaning in brackets.
Medium
1. ____ + view = to see before (before) 2. ____ + spell = to spell wrongly (wrongly) 3. ____ + heat = to heat before (before)
47.What is the meaning of the prefix 're-'?
Easy
48.What is the root word in 'disagreeable'?
Medium
49.Add the correct prefix to the root word to make the meaning in brackets.
Medium
The new student was very ____ (not kind) to the others.
50.Add a suffix to the root word to make the word that fits the sentence.
Medium
The ____ (beauty) sunset filled the sky with colors.
51.Complete the word by adding the correct prefix or suffix.
Easy
The opposite of 'happy' is ____happy.
52.Explain how the suffix '-ful' changes the meaning of 'care'.
Medium
53.Explain how the suffix '-ful' changes the meaning of 'care' to make 'careful'.
Medium
54.Explain how the suffix '-less' changes the meaning of 'care' to make 'careless'.
Medium
55.Explain how the prefix 're-' changes the meaning of 'build' to make 'rebuild'.
Medium
56.Explain how the prefix 'un-' changes the meaning of the root word 'happy' to make 'unhappy'. Use the word 'opposite' in your answer.
Hard

Notes de révision

## Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words A **root word** is the main part of a word. It carries the basic meaning. For example, in the word 'unhappy', the root is 'happy'. A **prefix** is a group of letters added to the **beginning** of a root word. It changes the meaning. For example, adding 'un-' to 'happy' makes 'unhappy', which means not happy. A **suffix** is a group of letters added to the **end** of a root word. It can change the meaning or the part of speech (like turning a verb into a noun). For example, adding '-ness' to 'happy' makes 'happiness', which is a noun. ### Common Prefixes and Their Meanings - **un-** = not (e.g., unhappy, unkind) - **dis-** = not or opposite of (e.g., dislike, disagree) - **re-** = again (e.g., redo, replay) - **pre-** = before (e.g., preview, preheat) - **mis-** = wrongly (e.g., misspell, misbehave) - **in-** = not (e.g., incorrect, invisible) - **sub-** = under (e.g., submarine, subway) - **super-** = above or beyond (e.g., superhero, superfine) - **anti-** = against (e.g., antifreeze, antisocial) - **auto-** = self (e.g., autograph, automobile) ### Common Suffixes and Their Meanings - **-ing** = doing (e.g., running, playing) - **-ed** = past tense (e.g., walked, jumped) - **-er** = one who (e.g., teacher, runner) - **-ly** = in a way that (e.g., quickly, slowly) - **-ful** = full of (e.g., helpful, beautiful) - **-less** = without (e.g., careless, hopeless) - **-ness** = state of being (e.g., happiness, kindness) - **-ment** = action or result (e.g., enjoyment, movement) - **-ation** = action or process (e.g., creation, information) - **-ous** = full of (e.g., dangerous, famous) ### Spelling Rules When Adding Suffixes 1. **Doubling a consonant**: If a word ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant and the stress is on the last syllable, double the last consonant before adding a suffix that starts with a vowel. Example: 'run' + '-ing' = 'running'. 2. **Dropping a silent e**: If a word ends in a silent 'e', drop the 'e' before adding a suffix that starts with a vowel. Example: 'make' + '-ing' = 'making'. 3. **Changing y to i**: If a word ends in a consonant + 'y', change the 'y' to 'i' before adding a suffix that does not start with 'i'. Example: 'happy' + '-ness' = 'happiness'. ### How to Work Out an Unfamiliar Word When you see a new word, break it into parts: prefix + root + suffix. Use the meanings of the parts to guess the meaning of the whole word. For example, 'unhelpful' = 'un-' (not) + 'help' (root) + '-ful' (full of) → not full of help → not helpful. Remember: Practice makes perfect! Try to find prefixes and suffixes in the books you read.

root word: The main part of a word that carries the basic meaning. For example, 'happy' is the root of 'unhappy'.
prefix: A group of letters added to the beginning of a root word to change its meaning. For example, 'un-' in 'unhappy'.
suffix: A group of letters added to the end of a root word to change its meaning or part of speech. For example, '-ness' in 'happiness'.
affix: A general term for a prefix or suffix that is attached to a root word.
derivational affix: An affix that changes the meaning of a word, like 'un-' or '-ful'.
inflectional affix: An affix that changes the form of a word to show tense, number, etc., like '-ed' or '-s'.
prefixation: Adding a prefix to the beginning of a word.
suffixation: Adding a suffix to the end of a word.

Cartes mémo

What is a root word?

A root word is the main part of a word that carries its basic meaning. For example, in 'unhappy', 'happy' is the root word.

What is a prefix?

A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. For example, 'un-' in 'unhappy' means 'not'.

What is a suffix?

A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or how it is used. For example, '-ful' in 'playful' means 'full of'.

What does the prefix 'un-' mean?

'Un-' means 'not' or 'opposite of'. For example, 'unhappy' means 'not happy'.

What does the prefix 'dis-' mean?

'Dis-' means 'not' or 'opposite of'. For example, 'disagree' means 'not agree'.

What does the prefix 're-' mean?

'Re-' means 'again' or 'back'. For example, 'redo' means 'do again'.

What does the prefix 'pre-' mean?

'Pre-' means 'before'. For example, 'preview' means 'view before'.

What does the prefix 'mis-' mean?

'Mis-' means 'wrongly' or 'badly'. For example, 'misspell' means 'spell wrongly'.

What does the prefix 'in-' mean?

'In-' can mean 'not' or 'into'. For example, 'incorrect' means 'not correct'.

What does the prefix 'sub-' mean?

'Sub-' means 'under' or 'below'. For example, 'submarine' means 'under the sea'.

What does the prefix 'super-' mean?

'Super-' means 'above' or 'more than'. For example, 'superhero' means 'a hero with special powers'.

What does the prefix 'anti-' mean?

'Anti-' means 'against' or 'opposed to'. For example, 'antifreeze' is a liquid that stops freezing.

What does the prefix 'auto-' mean?

'Auto-' means 'self' or 'automatic'. For example, 'autograph' means 'a person's own signature'.

What does the suffix '-ing' do to a verb?

It makes the verb show an action that is happening now. For example, 'run' becomes 'running'.

What does the suffix '-ed' do to a verb?

It makes the verb show a past action. For example, 'play' becomes 'played'.

What does the suffix '-er' mean when added to a verb?

It means 'a person who does something'. For example, 'teach' becomes 'teacher'.

What does the suffix '-ly' do to an adjective?

It turns an adjective into an adverb, often meaning 'in a certain way'. For example, 'quick' becomes 'quickly'.

What does the suffix '-ful' mean?

'-ful' means 'full of' or 'having'. For example, 'joyful' means 'full of joy'.

What does the suffix '-less' mean?

'-less' means 'without'. For example, 'careless' means 'without care'.

What does the suffix '-ness' do to an adjective?

It turns an adjective into a noun meaning 'the state of being'. For example, 'happy' becomes 'happiness'.

What does the suffix '-ment' do to a verb?

It turns a verb into a noun meaning 'the result or act of'. For example, 'enjoy' becomes 'enjoyment'.

What does the suffix '-ation' do to a verb?

It turns a verb into a noun meaning 'the action or process of'. For example, 'inform' becomes 'information'.

What does the suffix '-ous' mean?

'-ous' means 'full of' or 'having'. For example, 'dangerous' means 'full of danger'.

What is the spelling rule when adding a suffix to a word ending in a silent 'e'?

Usually, you drop the silent 'e' before adding a suffix that starts with a vowel. For example, 'make' + '-ing' = 'making'.

What is the spelling rule when adding a suffix to a word with a short vowel and one consonant at the end?

You double the final consonant before adding a suffix that starts with a vowel. For example, 'run' + '-ing' = 'running'.

What is the spelling rule when adding a suffix to a word ending in 'y' after a consonant?

Change the 'y' to 'i' before adding a suffix that does not start with 'i'. For example, 'happy' + '-ness' = 'happiness'.

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