Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words

Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words

By Nicole Harmon

Prefixes

​Common Prefixes and Their Meanings

Multiple Choice

How can prefixes change words?

• change color

• change numbers of letters but not syllables

• change the meaning

Multiple Choice

The unwanted toy lay in the corner while the children played outside on the swings.

What does unwanted mean in the sentence above?

• wanted again

• twice wanted

• not wanted

• wanted many

Multiple Choice

What is the prefix for the word rewrite? 

• re
• view
• r
• rev

Multiple Choice

What does the word unkind mean?

• helpful
• nice
• not kind 
• hungry

A suffix is found at the end of a base word and changes the meaning of a word.

• likely

• fluffy

• helpful

• hopeless

Examples: careful, cheerful, colorful, careless, washable, comfortable, teacher, driver.......

For Example:

If you have the word teach, which is a verb: something that you do, and you add the suffix "-er" to the end, it becomes someone who teaches. It changes from something you do: a verb to someone: a noun. The suffix "-er" means the person who.

Multiple Choice

Where is a suffix found on a word?

• at the beginning

• at the end

Multiple Choice

What is the suffix in this word?

thankful

• thank

• ful

Multiple Choice

The suffix -less, like in the word fearless means:

• full of

• with

• without

• in a way

Multiple Choice

Which suffix can you add to the word "reason" to make a new word?

• -ful

• -ion

• -or

• -able

Root Words

Root Words

A root word is the most basic form of word that would have suffixes or prefixes added to it.

Root words

• take away the prefix and suffixes to find the root word

• think of the meaning of the root word before adding the prefix or suffix

• example: prepay (pay is the root word, it means to give money for an item)

• example: teacher (teach is the root word, it means to show or explain something)

Multiple Choice

What is the root word in

playful?

• play

• ful

• playful

Multiple Choice

Anna felt unprepared for the history exam. In the word, "unprepared", what is the root?

• un

• ed

• prepare

• prep

Multiple Choice

Mrs. Harmon reassured the students that they were more than prepared for state testing. In the word "reassured", what is the root?

• assure

• re

• ed

• sured