Suffixes, prefixes and stems

GRADE 6
Grade 6 English Home Language Term 2 Weeks 1 & 2: Unit “How do you do it?”: Language structures and conventions: Stems, Prefixes, Suffixes PG 6&7
Name:

1. Prefixes non-, dis- and un-

How much do you
A prefix is a word part that is added to the
remember about
front of a root word to change the
meaning of the word. e.g. dis-, non- and prefixes, suffixes and
un- which all mean ‘not’ or the ‘opposite root words?
of’. A root word is sometimes called a stem
or a base word. Add one of the prefixes
non-, un- or dis- to the following root
words:

agree willing appoint

sense worthy negotiable
grace fat used

2. Suffixes –able, -ment and -ness

A suffix is a word part that is added to the end of a root word and it usually
changes the meaning of the word.
Add one of the suffixes –able, -ment and -ness to the following root words:

prob
content pass
soft
comfort move
disappoint
careless blind

3. Root words
A root word is a word part that contains the basic meaning of a word. The
meaning can be changed by adding another root word or a suffix or a
prefix to the root word.
The words cycl (circular), graph (write or draw) and phon (sound) are root
words. Try to make three words from each root word by adding either a suffix
or a prefix to that root word.
cycl (circular) graph (write or draw) phon (sound)

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 GRADE 6
4. Make words using prefixes
Work with a friend. Here a number of prefixes. See how many words you can

Grade 6 English Home Language Term 2 Weeks 1 & 2: Unit “How do you do it?”: Language structures and conventions: Stems, Prefixes, Suffixes PG 6&7
think of for each prefix:

in- un- dis- re- im-

de- ex- pre- mis-

5. Make words using suffixes

Work with a friend. Here a number of suffixes. See how many words you can
think of for each suffix:

-ful -ist -ly -ion -ness

-y -less -or -ment -able

6. Add the correct prefixes

In the sentences below complete each word with a prefix chosen from the
following list. You can use a prefix more than once.

re- post- over- pre-

a) The problem with taxis is that they are often crowded

b) John was elected as the captain of the cricket team.
c) The tuck shop offered the students a fund because the milk was sour.
d) She added a script (a PS) at the end of her letter.
e) We get paid electricity at our house.

7. Make new words using these root words:

Use either prefixes or suffixes to make new words from these root words.

board take order qualify load

depend sad amaze soft manage

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 Memorandum

GRADE 6
Activity: Language: Suffixes, Prefixes and Stems.

Grade 6 English Home Language Term 2 Weeks 1 & 2: Unit “How do you do it?”: Language structures and conventions: Stems, Prefixes, Suffixes PG 6&7
Language structures and conventions: Suffixes, Prefixes, Stems

Preparation
Get familiar with suffixes, prefixes and stems. All the instructions are provided on
the worksheets.

Suggested answers:
1.Prefixes non-, dis- and un- (9 marks)

disagree nonsense disgrace

unwilling unworthy non-fat
disappoint non-negotiable unused

2.Suffixes –able, -ment and -ness (9 marks)

probable softness disappointment

contentment comfortable carelessness
passable movement blindness

3.Root words (9 marks)

Learners own answers such as:

cycl (circular) options graph (write or draw) phon (sound)

bicycle paragraph, phonics
tricyle autograph, phone
cyclone biography saxophone
cyclist photograph telephone
recycle microphone
4. Make words using prefixes (20 marks)
Learner’s own answers for in-, un-, dis-, re-, im-, de-, ex-, pre, mis-.
5. Make words using suffixes (20 marks)
Learner’s own answers for –ful, -ist, -ly, -ion, -ness, -y, less, -or, -ment, -able.

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 GRADE 6
6. Add the correct prefixes (5 marks)
a) The problem with taxis is that they are often overcrowded.

Grade 6 English Home Language Term 2 Weeks 1 & 2: Unit “How do you do it?”: Language structures and conventions: Stems, Prefixes, Suffixes PG 6&7
b) John was re-elected as the captain of the cricket team.
c) The tuck shop offered the students a refund because the milk was sour.
d) She added a postscript (a PS) at the end of her letter.
e) We get prepaid electricity at our house.

7.Make new wordsusing these root words (10 marks)

Learner’s own answers from board, take, order, qualify, load, depend, sad,
amaze, soft, manage.

(Total = 82marks)

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