Root Words,

Prefixes,
and Suffixes
Why learn root words, prefixes, and
suffixes?

You can figure out the meanings of new words

by learning about the three (3) word parts:
 roots –word bases
 prefixes – word beginnings
 suffixes – word endings
Root words, prefixes, and suffixes
are everywhere!
(Click on the green arrow to continue.)
Let’s investigate!
(Click on a sign to continue!)

ords,
Why learn root w
ixes?
prefixes, and suff

R o o t W o r d s
Prefixes
Suffixes
Investigation Trail
“Knowing root words can help you
understand and remember difficult
words much better.

Roots are everywhere! And not just

under trees and plants! ;-)

Let’s investigate!”

Root Words
A root word is a base word. You can change the
meaning of it by adding suffixes and/or prefixes.

Root Word Definition Example

am, amor love, liking amiable, amorous
aud hear, listen audio, auditorium
bio life biography, biology
cycl wheel, circular bicycle
geo earth geography, geology

Root Words
 love,
liking
My best friend is amiable.
The mama penguin and her
baby are amorous.

am, amor
 hear,
listen
The band played music in the
auditorium.
The audience clapped at the
end of the performance.

aud
 life

Biology is the study of life.

Your biography is the story of
your life.

bio
 wheel,
circular
I want to ride my bicycle.
It is important to recycle
paper, plastic, and cans.
Another name for a tornado is
cyclone.
cycl
 earth

My favorite subject is
geography.
Geology is the study of the
earth.

geo
“You can find prefixes at the
beginning of many words. Even the
word “prefix” has a prefix!

Let’s investigate some of the places

where you’ll find prefixes!”

Prefixes
A prefix is a group of letters that comes before a
root word. They can change or clarify the meaning
of the root word.

Prefix Definition Example

pre- before preview
un- not unhappy
re- back, again reread, replay
non- not nonsense
sub- under submarine

Prefixes
 before

Make a prediction about the

story before you read it.
I love watching movie
previews.

pre-
 not

Sad songs make me feel

unhappy.
The old sofa is very
uncomfortable.

un-
 again,
back
It’s important to review before
a test.
Let’s watch a replay of the
homerun!

re-
 not

We would like to sit in the non-

smoking section.
Do you like to read nonfiction?

non-
 under

A submarine travels under the

water.
I ride the subway into the city.

sub-
“You can find suffixes at the end of
many words. They come after
prefixes and root words.

Think of suffixes as the dessert

of a word! Yummy!

Let’s investigate!”

Suffixes
Suffixes come at the end of a word. Sometimes
a suffix will tell you what part of speech or tense
a word is.

Suffix Definition Example

-s, -es plural, more than one books, sandwiches
-ed past tense (regular called, learned
verbs)
-less without careless, hopeless
-er one who, a person baker, teacher
who

Suffixes
-ful full of hopeful, careful
 plural, more
than one

The girl has many dolls.

How many sandwiches did you
eat?

-s, -es
 past tense (regular
verbs)
 Jose called his mom.
 We played soccer at recess.

-ed
 without

Alma spent all of her money.

She was penniless.
Don’t be careless with other
people’s things.

-less
 a person who does
something
The baker bakes cakes.
A teacher is someone who
teaches.

-er
-ful full of
Thank you for the flowers.
That was very thoughtful of
you.
A ballerina is a graceful
dancer.
Hopefully, there is gold at
the end of the rainbow!
 You did
a super job investigating
root words,
prefixes,
and suffixes!
Let’s check if you know and
understood the lesson about
Prefixes and Suffixes.

Answer the following in your

Activity Folder.
Activity 3.1 Prefix and Suffix