Prefixes and Suffixes

If your teacher asks you to redo your art project, what are you being asked to do?

• Do it for the first time

• Do it again

• Do it without any help

• Do it very quickly

Answer explanation

The prefix 're-' means 'again' or 'back'. Therefore, to 'redo' something means to do it again.

Match each root word to the suffix that correctly combines with it to form a new word.

• -less

• worth

• -ful

• hope

• -ment

• agree

Answer explanation

The suffix '-ful' means 'full of,' so it combines with 'hope' to create 'hopeful.' The suffix '-less' means 'without,' so it combines with 'worth' to create 'worthless.' The suffix '-ment' means 'the act or result of,' so it combines with 'agree' to create 'agreement.'

A fearless firefighter is someone who acts...

• with a lot of fear.

• before feeling fear.

• full of fear.

• without any fear.

Answer explanation

The suffix '-less' means 'without'. A 'fearless' person is someone who is without fear.

Sort these words based on the meaning of their prefix.

Groups:

(a) Prefix means 'not' or 'opposite'

,

(b) Prefix means 'again'

• reappear

• rebuild

• disagree

• unhappy

Answer explanation

The prefixes 'un-' and 'dis-' both mean 'not' or 'opposite of'. The prefix 're-' means 'again'. Words are sorted into the category that matches their prefix's meaning.

A bicycle is called that because it has...

• one wheel.

• two wheels.

• three wheels.

• many wheels.

Answer explanation

The prefix 'bi-' means 'two'. A 'bicycle' is a vehicle with two wheels.

Match each prefix to its correct meaning.

• Self

• auto-

• Together

• anti-

• Against

• co-

Answer explanation

Each prefix is matched to its definition: 'anti-' means against, 'auto-' means self, and 'co-' means together or with.

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The broken toy was useless, but the new one was very ______.

• playful

• playless

• played

• playing

Answer explanation

The suffix '-ful' means 'full of'. 'Playful' means 'full of play' and fits the context of a new, working toy, contrasting with the 'useless' broken one.

What does the prefix dis- mean in a word like dislike?

• Again

• Not or opposite of

• Before

• With

Answer explanation

The prefix 'dis-' means 'not' or 'the opposite of'. To 'dislike' something is to not like it.

Sort these nouns based on the suffix used to form them.

Groups:

(a) Ends with -ment

,

(b) Ends with -ness

• kindness

• excitement

• sadness

• agreement

Answer explanation

The suffix '-ment' creates nouns that mean 'the act or result of', while '-ness' creates nouns that mean 'the state or quality of'. Words are sorted by which suffix they contain.

The class watched in amazement as the magician performed the trick. What is 'amazement'?

• The act of being amazing

• The state of being amazed

• Someone who is amazing

• Without being amazed

Answer explanation

The suffix '-ment' often means 'the state or result of an action'. 'Amazement' is the state of being amazed.