Root Words, Prefixes and Suffixes

Vocabulary - Prefix and Suffix

​Familiarity with common prefixes, suffixes, and word roots can dramatically improve your ability to determine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words. The following slides list common prefixes, suffixes, and word roots; their meanings; an example of a word with that prefix, suffix, or word root; the meaning of that word; and a sentence that demonstrates the meaning of that word.

​Prefixes are syllables added to the beginning of words to change or add to their meaning.

​Suffixes are syllables added to the ends of words to change or add to their meaning.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct spelling for the words that have prefixes or suffixes.

• ilegal

• illegal

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct spelling for the words that have prefixes or suffixes.

• misspelled

• mispelled

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct spelling for the words that have prefixes or suffixes.

• unecessary

• unnecessary

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct spelling for the words that have prefixes or suffixes.

• ilegible

• illegible

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct spelling for the words that have prefixes or suffixes.

• overrated

• overated

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct spelling for the words that have prefixes or suffixes.

• driving

• driveing

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct spelling for the words that have prefixes or suffixes.

• suddeness

• suddenness

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct spelling for the words that have prefixes or suffixes.

• disatisfy

• dissatisfy

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct spelling for the words that have prefixes or suffixes.

• finally

• finaly

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct spelling for the words that have prefixes or suffixes.

• Truly

• T

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct option

• The other team is so strong that our team is at an unadvantage.

• The other team is so strong that our team is at a disadvantage.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct option

• She is beautiness.

• She is beautiful.

Multiple Choice

I tried to speak to the professor, but he was ___.

• misavailable

• disavailable

• imavailable

• unavailable

Multiple Choice

The accident was ___.

• imavoidable

• unavoidable

• misavoidable

• disavoidable

Multiple Choice

My keys seem to have ___. I can't find them anywhere!

• disappeared

• unappeared

• misappeared

• imappeared

Multiple Choice

I think I've ___. Could you please repeat the directions?

• misunderstood

• imunderstood

• ununderstood

• disunderstood

Multiple Choice

Kevin is so ___. His room is always a mess.

• untidy

• imtidy

• mistidy

• distidy

Multiple Choice

He was angry to find that he had been ___.

• iminformed

• disinformed

• uninformed

• misinformed

​un-

The prefix un means not, reverse action, deprive of, release from.

For example, unable or unfair.

​

mis-

The prefix mis means wrong.

For example, mistake or misunderstand.

​

dis-

The prefix dis also means not and opposite of.

For example, disconnect.

​

im-

The prefix im can also mean not and opposite of.

For example, impossible,

Multiple Choice

I think it's a bad idea. I totally ___.

• unagree

• misagree

• disagree

• imagree

Multiple Choice

It's ___ to predict the weather around here.

• mispossible

• impossible

• unpossible

• dispossible

Multiple Choice

She was devastated when she realised he had been ___.

• imhonest

• mishonest

• dishonest

• unhonest

Multiple Choice

I thought she was very ___. She kept interrupting me.

• unpolite

• impolite

• dispolite

• mispolite

Multiple Choice

What is a prefix?

• a part added to the middle of a word

• a part added to the end of a word

• a part added to the beginning of a word

• root word

Multiple Choice

What can sometimes happen to a word when a suffix is added?

• it can get confusing

• it gets longer and more complicated

• the grammar function can change

• it becomes the antonym of the root word.

Multiple Choice

What prefix would you add to the word "view" to indicate that you see something before other people do?

• re

• fore

• pre

• dis

Poll

Do you think this lesson/quiz helped you learn something new?

• Yes

• No

• Meh..