Practice building vocabulary with prefixes, roots, and suffixes

1. A root is the base element of a word. For example:

“pose” is a root meaning “put”
2. A prefix is a word element that is placed before a root. Adding a prefix to a root changes the
meaning. For example:
(A) ex- is a prefix meaning “out” or “from”
“Expose” (prefix + root) means to uncover, disclose, or reveal (to “put out”).
When the tide went out, the shipwreck was exposed.
(B). im- is a prefix meaning “in”, “on,” “towards,” or “against.”
“Impose” (prefix + root) means to place upon.
The government is debating the possibility of imposing yet another tax.
3. A suffix is a word element that is placed after a root. It, too, changes the meaning of a root.
For example:
(A) –tion is a suffix that indicates a noun form.
An “imposition” (prefix + root + suffix) is a state of affairs in which someone or something
inflicts (imposes) on someone a set of conditions that needs to be met.
It was an imposition to ask him to go miles out of his way to pick up your package.
(B). –ure is another suffix that indicates a noun form.
“exposure” (prefix + root + suffix) is the state of being in a position where something is revealed
to you or you reveal something.
The exposure to a constant high level of noise in the factory affected his hearing.
Adding vocabulary with prefixes and roots
Study the following prefixes and roots.

Prefixes Roots
ad-, as- = to, towards pel, pulse = push, drive
dis- = not, away, apart, remove pose = put
e-, ex- = out, from quire = ask, seek
in-, im- = in, into solve, solute = loosen
re- = back, again spect, spic = look at, see
vene, vent = come

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Examples:
The snow receded with the advent of spring.
(A) coming
(B) returning
(C) look
(D) sight

1. The expelled students petitioned the dean.

a. required
b. disposed
c. dismissed
d. rejected

2. The problem was resolved at the meeting.

a. taken care of
b. brought up
c. debated
d. verified

3. The secretary disposed of the clutter on the desk.

a. filed
b. got rid of
c. returned
d. mailed

4. Mary bought her new coat on an impulse.

a. a shopping trip
b. sale
c. credit
d. a whim

5. William studied the various aspects of the situation.

a. facets
b. airs
c. visages
d. poses

6. This material repels water.

a. filters
b. alters
c. extracts
d. sheds

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7. Last night’s event was remarkable.
a. happening
b. blizzard
c. escapade
d. rampage

8. Sam hasn’t made any money on his invention.

a. fabrication
b. anecdote
c. creation
d. composition

9. The club was dissolved after a few years.

a. disbanded
b. reestablished
c. perpetuated
d. assisted

10. The inquiry took more than two hours.

a. deliberation
b. appraisal
c. commentary
d. investigation

Adding more prefixes and roots

Prefixes Roots
con-, com-, co- = together or with duce, duct = lead
de- = from, off, down hes, here = stick
inter- = between, among ject = throw
intra- = within, on the inside sign = mark, sign
intro- = into sume = use up, take
pre- , pro- = [GK] before, in tract = draw away, pull
front of, on behalf of; vert = turn
= [L] before, for, instead of
Sub- = under, lower

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Examples:
1. The metal contracted when the weather changed.
a. shrunk
b. stuck
c. twisted
d. broke

2. We have been conducting a survey on the dietary habits of university graduates.

a. running
b. examining
c. condemning
d. discussing

3. The Concorde aircraft consumes a great amount of fuel.

a. needs
b. wastes
c. leaks
d. uses

4. Lisa felt dejected after the interview.

a. elated
b. determined
c. discouraged
d. convinced

5. The speaker interjected anecdotes about the football team.

a. inserted
b. transformed
c. interrupted
d. delivered

6. The group was involved in several subversive activities.

a. charitable
b. rebellious
c. preposterous
d. questionable

7. The professor wants Jan to improve the coherence of his term paper.
a. rationality
b. consistency
c. penmanship
d. distinctiveness

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8. The explosion projected pieces of masonry and debris for several miles.
a. destroyed
b. melted
c. wrecked
d. hurled

9. Lucy deduced what had happened in the playground.

a. surmised
b. provoked
c. appealed
d. condoned

10. Bill has a tendency to be introverted.

a. biased
b. haughty
c. reserved
d. devious

11. Susan was subjected to Tony’s cooking last night.

a. converted
b. diverted
c. exposed
d. opposed

Adding more prefixes and roots

Prefixes Roots
ante- =before act = do, make
circum- = around, about ced, cede, ceed, cess = go, come
ob- , of- = against, toward fer = carry, bring
retro- = backward, behind flex = bend
se- = away, apart, without gress = step, move
super- = over, beyond scend = climb
trans- = across, beyond,
through, on or to the other side

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Examples:
1. Those who transgress the laws of society can be punished.
a. disagree with
b. disperse
c. violate
d. interfere

2. The law was retroactive to 1980.

a. abolished
b. enacted
c. backdated
d. overturned

3. The Sothern states seceded from the Union in 1860.

a. benefitted from
b. withdrew from
c. terminated
d. discriminated

4. The operator was transferred after twenty years at her job.

a. relocated
b. dismissed
c. retired
d. honored

5. Jet propulsion aircraft superseded airplanes driven by propellers.

a. supplanted
b. maintained
c. enhanced
d. transgressed

6. A retroflexed tongue position is used to make the sound.

a. curled
b. curious
c. backward
d. flexible

7. I had to complete several transactions before the house could be sold.

a. deals
b. renovations
c. alternation
d. removals

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8. The circumference of the property has only been estimated.
a. caliber
b. expenses
c. perimeter
d. territory

9. The antecedent of the horse was a small four-toed animal.

a. breeder
b. predecessor
c. competitor
d. rival

10. Medical services retrogressed after funding had been cut.

a. progressed
b. modernized
c. transformed
d. regressed

11. The man offered to fix the television.

a. refused
b. attempted
c. charged
d. volunteered

Adding the suffixes –ion and –tion, -sion

The suffixes –ion, and –tion, -sion turn the word into a noun. They mean “in the condition or
action of.” Check the meaning of the following words in your dictionary.
Aggression ascension convention distraction
Expulsion induction introspection reflection
Resolution subtraction
Adding the suffix –ive
The suffix –ive turns a word into an adjective. It means “having the nature of.” Find the meaning
of the following words in your dictionary.
Aggressive attractive deductive distractive
Excessive impulsive inventive objective
Respective subjective

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Adding number prefixes

Cardinal Numbers Ordinal Numbers

Uni 1 Primo 1st
du, bi 2 Second 2nd
tri 3 Terti 3rd
quadro, quadri 4 Quart 4th
quinque/quinqu 5 Quint 5th
sex 6 Sext 6th
sept/septem 7 Sept 7th
octo(i) 8 Octav 8th
nov/novem 9 Non 9th
dec/deci/decem 10 Decim 10th
cent/centi 100 Centi 100th
mill/milli 1,000 Milli 1000th

Examples:
Primacy-octave-unicycle-triangle-duet-centipede-centennial-quintuplets-decimal-secondary
Reviewing prefixes

1 2 3
Prefix Meaning Example
a- To, towards Ashore, aside
a-, an- Not, without Amoral
ab-, abs- Away from Abstraction
ad-, ac-, ag-, al-, an-, as-, To adhere
at-
Ambi- Both Ambidextrous
Ante- Before Anterior
Anti- Against Antisocial
Auto- Self automation
Bene- Well benefactor
Bi- Two biceps
Cata- Down catastrophe
Cirum- Around circumvent
Con-, com-, co-, cog-, col- Together, with cognate
, cor-
Contra- Against contraception
De- From deferral
di-. Dif-. Dis- Part, separate divide
Dis- Not disillusioned
En-, em- Put into enthralled

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e-, ex- Out, from extract
Extra (o)- Beyond Extraterrestrial
il-, in-, im-, ir- Not impartial
In-, im- In, into involved
Infra- Below infrared
Inter- Between, among interfere
Intro- Into Introduce
Intra- Within Intramural
Mal- Bad maladjusted
Meta- Beyond metaphysics
Micro- Small microscope
Mis- Wrong misdeed
Mono- One monogamy
Multi- Many multitude
Non- Not nonentity
Ob-, oc-, of-. Ops- Against obstruct
Out- Surpass Outmaneuver
Over- Excessive overconfident
Para- Beside paramedic
Per- Through permeate
Poly- Many polyglot
Post- After posthumous
Pre- Before premeditated
Preter- More than preternatural
Pro- For proceed
Re- Back, again regain
Retro- Backward retroactive
Se- Apart sequential
Semi- Half Semicolon
Sub-, suc-, suf-, sug-, sup- Under submarine
, sur-
Super- Over Superfluous
Syn-, sym-, syl-, sys- Together symbol
Trans- Across transmute
Ultra- Beyond ultrasound
Un- Not uncertain

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Reviewing Roots

1 2 3
Root Meaning Example
Act Do Activate
Ambula Walk Ambulate
Ami, amo Love enamored
Annus Year Annual
Aqua Water Aquarium
Anthrop Humankind Anthropomorphic
Astr Star Astronaut
Audi Hear audition
Biblio Book bibliography
Bio Life biography
Carni Meat carnivorous
Ced, cede, ceed, cess Go, come precede
Chromos Time chronometer
Cide Kill homicide
Claudo Close claustrophobia
Dict Say dictation
Dorm Sleep dormitory
Duct Lead conduct
Ego Self egocentric
Fact Make factory
Fer Carry transfer
Fem Woman Effeminate
Fidel Trust fidelity
Flex Bend flexible
Fluent, flou Flow superfluous
Frac, frag Break fracture
Frat Brother Fraternal
Fuge Flee fugitive
Gam Marriage bigamist
Gen Birth, race genocide
Geo Earth geology
Gnostos Know prognosis
Gram Letters grammar
Graph Writing telegraph
Gress Step, move ingress
Gyn Woman gynecologist
Herbi Grass herbivore
Host Enemy hostile
Here Stick Coherence
Hetero Different heterogeneous
Homo Alike homogeneous

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Hydro Water hydraulic
Ject Throw Interjection
Later Side lateral
Lingua Tongue linguistics
Lithos Stone Paleolithic
Logy Study biology
Lumin Light illumiate
Manu Hand manipulate
Magni Big magnify
Mania Madness megalomania
Masc Male masculine
Matri Mother matriarch
Metron Measure Metrical
Mit, miss Send transmit
Morph Form metamorphic
Mort Death immortal
Nym Name synonym
Omni All omnipotent
Ops Eye optical
Pater, patri Father paternal
Pathy Feelings sympathy
Ped Foot pedestrian
Pel, pulse Push, drive repulsive
Pend Hang appendage
Phil Love philosophy
Phobia Fear Acrophobia
Phon Sound microphone
Port Carry transport
Pose Put composition
Pseudo False pseudonym
Psych Mind Psychopathic
Quire Seek acquire
Scend Climb Transcendental
Scope See telescope
Script Write inscribe
Sec cut dissect
Sed Sit Sedentary
Sentio Feel resentful
Sequ Follow consecutive
Sign Mark consignment
Spect View inspector
Soro Sister Sorority
Solve Loosen resolution
Soph Wise philosopher
Sui Self suicide

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 Sume Use up, take consumption
Tact Touch contact
Tele Distance Telepathy
Terre Earth Terrestrial
Thermo Heat Thermostat
Theo God monotheist
Tract Draw away traction
Vene Come intervene
Vert Turn Diversion
Vis See Invisible
Vore Eat carnivore
Zoo Animal Zoologist

Reviewing Suffixes

1 2 3
Suffix that
Forms a noun Meaning Example
-acy, -cy State or quality Accuracy, infancy
-age Activity Courage
Result of activity Drainage
-al Action Refusal, rival
-ance, -ence Action or process Assistance, dependence
-ant, -ent Agent Disinfectant, dependent
-ate State magistrate
-ation Resulting state Starvation
Action Exploration
Institution Organization
-dom Rank, condition, domain kingdom
-ee Affected person employee
-en Diminutive Maiden
Plural form oxen
-er, -or Person who does translator
something
-ese Inhabitants, language Chinese
-ess, -tress Female form Authoress, enchantress
-ful An amount handful
-hood Status childhood
-ian, -an Pertaining to Polynesian, republican
-ia Names Dahlia, Australia
Illnesses Phobia, hysteria
classes reptilia
-ic, -ics Arts and sciences Logic, music, arithmetic,
physics
-id Name Orchid, pyramid

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 -ide Names of elements Chloride, dioxide
-in, -ine Names of substances Gelatin, margarine
-ing Material made of Roofing
Activity driving
-ion Condition or action communication
-ism Attitude Idealism
Action Baptism
Conduct Heroism
Condition alcoholism
-ist Member of a party Socialist
Occupation cellist
-ite A member of a community socialite
-ity State or condition Purity
-ive Condition Captive
-let, -ette diminutive Booklet, kitchenette
-ling Diminutive Fledgling
-ment Result fragment
-ness State or condition happiness
-ocracy System democracy
-ry, -ary Place of activity Refinery, military
-ery Collectively machinery
-ship Status, condition friendship
-ster Occupation gangster
-tion, -sion Condition or action Reception, adhesion
-tive Condition Receptive
-y State or condition Fury
The result of an activity Victory
Location Library, company
-y, -ie Endearment Daddy, auntie

Suffixes that form verbs

1 2 3
Suffix that forms a verb Meaning Example
-ate Put in a state Isolate
-ed Past tense Walked
-en Become Moisten
Cause Deafen
-er Action Wander, waver
Imitating sounds Chatter
-ify Cause Simplify
-ing Present participle working
-ize Cause epitomize

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Suffixes that form adjectives

1 2 3
Suffix that forms an Meaning Example
adjective
-able, -ible Worthy Valuable, sensible
-al, -ial, -ical Quality Criminal, social, musical
-ant, -ent Kind of agent Malignant, apparent
-ate Kind of state Desolate
-ed Having Wooded
-en Material Woolen, golden
-er Comparative Grander
-ese Origin Japanese
-ful Having, giving useful
-ian In the tradition Georgian
-ic Quality heroic
-ing Activity working
-ile Having the qualities infantile
-ish Belonging to Swedish
Having the character of Foolish
Somewhat youngish
-ive, -ative, -itive Having the quality of Passive, attractive,
sensitive
-less Without helpless
-like Having the qualities of childlike
-ly Having the qualities of friendly
-ous, -eous, -ious Having the quality of Virtuous, courteous,
vivacious
-y Full of Creamy, bony

Suffixes that form adverbs

1 2 3
Suffix that forms an Meaning Example
adverb
-ly In a manner of Happily
-wards In a manner or direction Backward(s)
-wise In a manner or direction clockwise

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