Identify: Prefix, Suffix, & Root word

ImpatientAdventurous

Reread Benefit

Biology Solidify

Im patient Adventur ous[not]-patient adventure-[characterized by]

Re read Bene fit[again]-read [good/well]- [condition]

Bio logy Solid ify[life]-[the study of] [not gas or liquid]-[to make/to form into]

Prefixes, Suffixes, & Root Words

Root Words

Most originate from Latin and Greek

Serve as the basis for a new word, and often cannot stand alone

love + -ly = lovely

vs.

bene + volent = benevolent

“bene”= Latin for good

Common Latin Roots

Latin Root Definition Examplesambi both ambiguous, ambidextrousaqua water aquarium, aquamarineaud to hear audience, auditionbene good benefactor, benevolentcent one hundred century, percentcircum around circumference, circumstance

contra/counter against contradict, encounterdict to say dictation, dictatorduc/duct to lead conduct, inducefac to do; to make factory, manufactureform shape conform, reformfort strength fortitude, fortressfract to break fracture, fractionject throw projection, rejectionjud judge judicial, prejudice

Common Greek RootsGreek Root Definition Examplesanthropo man; human; anthropologist, philanthropy

humanityauto self autobiography, automobilebio life biology, biographychron time chronological, chronicdyna power dynamic, dynamitedys bad; hard; dysfunctional, dyslexic

unluckygram thing written epigram, telegramgraph writing graphic, phonographhetero different heteronym, heterogeneoushomo same homonym, homogenoushydr water hydration, dehydratehypo below; hypothermia, hypothetical

beneathlogy study of biology, psychologymeter/metr measure thermometer, perimetermicro small microbe, microscope

Prefix

A letter or group of letters that is added at the beginning of a word to change its meaning

semi- + circle= semicircle

A Few Common Prefixes

anti- = opposing, against -- ex. antibiotic

pre- = before in time/place/order– ex. preface, prelude

un- = not or reversal–- ex. unacceptable, unhappy, unplug

re- = again – ex. repaint, redo, reread, repeat

in-/il-/im- = not, without – ex. inappropriate, illegal, impossible

de- = down, reduce – ex. descend, despair, deduct

SuffixA group of letters placed at the end of a word

to make a new word. A suffix can make a new word in one of two ways:

Inflectional: the suffix can change a word from singular to plural or can change the tense:

dog dogs or walk walked

Derivational: creates new meaning, new word is “derived” from original word:

teach teacher or care careful

Common Inflectional Suffixes

-s = plural – dog dogs

-en = plural (irregular) – ox oxen

-ing = present tense – sleep sleeping

-ed = past tense – work worked

-er = comparative – big bigger

-est = superlative – big biggest

Common Derivational Suffixes

-er = changes to noun – teach teacher

-ation = changes to noun – explore exploration

-ness = changes to noun – sad sadness

-ary = changes to adjective – imagine imaginary

-y = changes to adjective – ease easy

-ly = changes to adverb – helpful helpfully

-ize = changes to verb – terror terrorize

So, why do we need to know this?

Breaking down words can help us understand word meanings

Prefix, suffix, and root word knowledge can be as helpful as using context clues