Spelling Prefixes and Suffixes This presentation matches objective W3 and W4.

Prefixes and suffixes This presentation will look at how prefixes and suffixes can help us to understand and spell words. Words are full of patterns and rules. Prefixes and suffixes help to create patterns in words.

Prefixes A prefix is a letter or group of letters that is fixed in front of the root of a word. The prefix changes the meaning of the word. con de ob construct destruct obstruct struct (build) Knowing what the prefixes mean can help our understanding of unfamiliar words. In this example, the prefixes are: con = with/together; de = down; ob = in the way.

Antonym prefixes Look at these words. The prefixes are in orange. inaccurate impolite illegal unhelpful irregular What is the effect of the prefix in each case? The prefixes in, im, il, un, and ir all mean not. So by using these prefixes, the meaning of the words changes – to the opposite meaning. Other antonym prefixes are ante (against), non (not), contra (against), mal (bad) and mis (wrong). Further work can easily be done here, looking for and explaining examples of the prefixes listed. These are antonym prefixes. Antonym means ‘opposite’ and they make the original word into its opposite. Can you think of other prefixes which do the same?

Antonym prefixes

Latin and Greek prefixes This activity illustrates that many of the prefixes we use have ancient Greek and Roman words. This is a good opportunity to do some dictionary work, looking for the roots and origins of classically based words.

Latin and Greek prefixes

Prefixes

Suffixes A suffix is a group of letters which is added to the end of a word, and which changes the meaning of the word. + er + ed + ing player played playing play Knowing how suffixes work can help our understanding of words and their spelling.

Suffixes

Suffixes for words ending in e Look at what happens when we add suffixes to a word ending in e (in this example, hope). With these two, the e is dropped before adding the suffix. + ed + ing + ful + less hoped hoping hopeful hopeless hope With these two, the e remains and the suffix is added. Can you work out the rule? If the suffix begins with a vowel, the e is usually dropped. If the suffix begins with a consonant, the e remains. Note: words ending in a soft ce or ge usually keep the e before able and ous, e.g. knowledgeable, courageous.

Suffixes for words ending in y Now look what happens when we add suffixes to words ending in consonant + y. Can you see what is happening? + er + ly + est + ness happier happily happiest happiness happy The y changes to an i and then the suffix is added. So for words ending in consonant + y, the y changes to an i before the prefix is added. (With a vowel + y word, just add the suffix.)

Suffixes

-ful suffixes Look what happens when we add full to a word. care waste help + full careful wasteful helpful full becomes ful Remember what happens with words ending in y. beauty plenty + full beautiful plentiful The y changes to i before adding ful.

cian, sion and tion suffixes Many words have endings like these. They make a shun sound. Here are some examples. Words ending in -tion, the most common of the ‘shun’ words. Words ending in -sion. The root word ends in d/de or s/se. Words ending in -cian usually indicate jobs/people. detention fiction action instruction collision extension fusion explosion optician dietician magician Can you think of any more?

cian, sion and tion suffixes