Root Words in Context

Context Clues
and
Roots/Affixes

Language Arts 8 - 11/4/2024

Today's goals:

• Use Context Clues to figure out the meaning of unknown words

• Introduce Roots and Affixes

• Use these concepts in our own writing

Context Clues

You may see a word you don't know when reading a story.
How can you figure out what this new word means?

You could try using context clues.

""Context" happens when the other words in a sentence help give a specific word meaning. Readers use the context clues in each sentence to determine the meaning of the underlined word.

5 Main Types of Context Clues

• Definition clues - Word is defined directly

• Synonym clues - Word has a similar meaning to what is described

• Antonym clues - Word has an opposite meaning to what is described

• Example clues - Examples of word is included in the sentence

• Inference clues - Use clues and text evidence to find definition

Multiple Choice

When the family traveled to the new country, their food was scarce. Because it was so limited, they had to find apple trees and set traps to get food.

Which term is a synonym for "scarce" in this example?

• traveled

• rotten

• available
• limited

Multiple Choice

The students adorned their hair with flowers and ribbons

• decorated

• brushed

• cut

• destroyed

Adorned = Decorated

In the previous sentence, the words "flowers" and "ribbons" are clues.

We can guess that the students put flowers and ribbons in their hair for a reason that is more decorative than practical.

Multiple Choice

No matter where you go, the Internet is following you. Every portable device is being made with an Internet connection, and most new TVs and other electronics also have Internet connections.
The Internet is truly ubiquitous.

If something is ubiquitous, it is ​​____________.

• dangerous

• exciting

• mysterious

• everywhere

Match

Let's see how well you know these prefixes before we start! Match the prefix to its definition!

• anti-

• pro-

• sub-

• pre-

• over-

against

for

under

before

excessive

• against

• for

• under

• before

• excessive

​Affixes are...

• Affixes, small word particles added to a root word to change its meaning.

• ​Prefixes, a word part added to the start of a root word which will modify the meaning of that word.

​

• ​Suffixes, a word part added to the end of a root word which modifies the meaning of that root.

Common Roots

• Ambi= both

• Aqua= water

• Aud= to hear

• bene= good

• dict= to say

• fract= to break

• srib/scribe= to write

Common Prefixes

• Pre= before, in front of (prefix, pretax, prequel)

• in/non/un/im= not (inadequate, nonfat, undo, impossible).

• dis= lack of, apart, not (disappear, disconnect)

• mis= wrong (misstep, miscommunicate)

Common Suffixes

• able/ible= able to (understandable, visible)

• ful= full of (graceful, beautiful)

• less= without (meaningless, pointless)

• ment= action/resulting state (resentment, retirement)

• ly= in a specified manner (quickly, carefully)

Using Roots and Affixes

• Take a word such as unsuccessfully

• break it down into roots and affixes

• un-success-ful-ly

• we know that un- means not, -ful means full, and -ly means in a certain way, so we can figure out that this means not in a way that is full of success.

Using Roots and Affixes

• inaudible

• break it down into roots and affixes

• in-aud-ible

• not-to hear-able

• not able to be heard

prefixes_suffixes chart.pdf - Google Drive

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Multiple Choice

A prefix is added to the ____________ of the word.

• beginning

• middle

• end

Multiple Choice

A suffix is added to the ____________ of the word.

• beginning

• middle

• end

Multiple Choice

Adding a prefix/suffix changes the meaning of a word.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

Check all the boxes with words that have a root words.

• biology

• sandbox

• submarine

• bicycle

Multiple Choice

Which word means an underwater ship?

• mariner

• submarine

• visible

• cyclone

Multiple Choice

Which word means a story of a person's life?

• biology

• audible

• chronological

• biography

Multiple Choice

Which word means loud enough to be heard?

• audience

• visible

• audible

• videocassette

Multiple Choice

Which word means the study of living things?

• mariner

• biology

• biography

• science

Multiple Choice

What is the root in the word cyclone?

• cycl

• clo

• one

• ycl

Multiple Choice

Alex is chronically late. Even with a watch on her wrist and clock on her iphone, she can never arrive anywhere on time!

The word chronically in this paragraph means-

• one time

• several times

• never

• always