with Sally

Sleuth Kristin Roslonski

EDCI 519
October 16, 2007
kroslons@gmu.edu
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.)
 w o rd s,
Why learn root
fixes?
prefixes, and suf

Root Words
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!”
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
 love, liking

My best friend is amiable.

The mama penguin and her baby are
amorous.
 hear, listen

The band played music in the

auditorium.
The audience clapped at the end of the
performance.
 life

Biology is the study of life.

Your biography is the story of your life.
 wheel, circular

I want to ride my bicycle.

It is important to recycle paper, plastic,
and cans.
Another name for a tornado is cyclone.
 earth

My favorite subject is geography.

Geology is the study of the earth.
“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!”
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
 before

Make a prediction about the story

before you read it.
I love watching movie previews.
 not

Sad songs make me feel unhappy.

The old sofa is very uncomfortable.
 again, back

It’s important to review before a test.

Let’s watch a replay of the homerun!
 not

We would like to sit in the non-smoking

section.
Do you like to read nonfiction?
 under

A submarine travels under the water.

I ride the subway into the city.
“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 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 verbs) called, learned
-less without careless, hopeless
-er one who, a person who baker, teacher
-ful full of hopeful, careful
 plural, more than one

The girl has many dolls.

How many sandwiches did you eat?
 past tense (regular verbs)

 Jose called his mom.

 We played soccer at recess.
 without

Alma spent all of her money. She was

penniless.
Don’t be careless with other people’s
things.
 a person who does something

The baker bakes cakes.

A teacher is someone who teaches.
 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!
Use a prefixes to find the opposite of these verbs:

1- wrap unwrap

2- use misuse

3- agree disagree

4- engage disengage

5- behave misbehave

6- understand misunderstand

7- fold unfold

8- spell misunderstand
9- connect disconnect
10- close disclose
Put the words in brackets in the appropriate form (use a
prefixes or a suffixes):
CHILDISH
He was acting in a very ..………….. way. (child)
UNHAPPY
She looked …………… She started to cry. (happy)
SUCCESSFUL
He passed his exam. He was …………… for the second
time. (succeed)

The team that he supported were able to win

CHAMPIONSHIP
the ……………….. (champion)
WEAKNESS
I couldn't find any ..………… in his theory. (weak)
 MATHEMATICIAN
He wants to be a ……………… when he grows up.
(mathematics)
HANDFUL
There were only a ..…………. of people at the match. (hand)

The road was too narrow, so they had to ……….

WIDEN it. (wide)

I think that you should ……………..

RECONSIDER your decision. It may
not be the best thing to do. (consider)

You need a COMBINATION

…………..… of motivation, organization and
hard work to realize your dreams.(combine)
Add a PREFIX and/or SUFFIX to the words below and put them in the correct sentence. In
brackets you'll find some information on the parts of speech to use.

PROBABLE COMMUNICATE AGREE CURIOUS ANGER HEALTH

RESPONSIBLE FAME HELP LIKE CAREFUL CONCLUDE

a) The lights are green, but nobody is moving. He is so……. (adjective)

ANGRY

b) Don't you know that saying " killed the cat?" (noun)
CURIOSITY

c) I think you should drive more . You're scaring me. …….(adverb)

CAREFULLY

d) She is a very TV star. (adjective)

FAMOUS
e) They have different opinions on the subject. Their will last forever. …….(noun with a
negative meaning)
DISAGREEMENT

f) Brian is always late for work. He is so . ………(adjective with a negative meaning)

IRRESPONSIBLE

g) This Math problem is very difficult. Mary didn't come to any. …….. (noun)

CONCLUSION

h) He can't see the banana peel. He will slip and fall. ………(adverb)

PROBABLY
PROBABLE COMMUNICATE AGREE CURIOUS ANGER HEALTH
RESPONSIBLE FAME HELP LIKE CAREFUL CONCLUDE
i) You shouldn't eat so much junk food. It's very . ……… (adjective with a negative meaning)
UNHEALTHY

j) Thanks for finding my cat. You're a very ……….. young man. (adjective)
HELPFUL

k) My parents are always fighting. There is no ……….. between them anymore. (noun)
COMMUNICATION

l) I really my packed lunch. It doesn't smell so nice. (verb with a negative meaning)

DISLIKE

PROBABLE COMMUNICATE AGREE CURIOUS ANGER HEALTH

RESPONSIBLE FAME HELP LIKE CAREFUL CONCLUDE