Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots Putting all the parts together

Let’s start at the beginning. . . In the beginning, there are base words. Base words are words which make sense on their own at their simplest form. For instance, “camp”, “board”, and “dog” are all base words.

But . . . We can take base words and add to other base words to create more complex, longer words. These are called “compound” words. How can you remember this? “CAMP” + “GROUND” = “CAMPGROUND” “DOG” + “HOUSE” = “DOGHOUSE” “BLACK” + “BOARD” = “BLACKBOARD”

Word Parts Sometimes, instead of adding a whole other word to a base word, we add a word part. When we add word parts to base words, it is not a compound word, because the word part cannot stand alone. It doesn’t make sense by itself. An example is the prefix “re-”.

What do word parts do? Word parts have their own individual meaning. When you add them to base words, they add that meaning. For instance, if you add “re-” (which means again) to “write”, it means something different than just write. What does “rewrite” mean?

Prefixes Prefixes are word parts that are added to the beginning of a base word. They are punctuated with a hyphen after the prefix. Example: “Re-” “RE-” + ACT = REACT “RE-” + BUILD = REBUILD “RE-” + WRITE = REWRITE “RE-” + CALL = RECALL

Roots Roots can be anywhere in the new word. They can be in the beginning, middle, or end. Sometimes, they are used to form words (not just added to base words). “ANIM” (mind,will, spirit) = ANIMAL “ANIM” = ANIMOSITY “ANIM” = MAGN- ANIMOUS “ANIM” = UNANIMOUS

Suffixes Suffixes are word parts that are added to the end of a word. They are punctuated with a hyphen before the word part. Example: “-ism”, which means “act, condition” CRITIC + “-ISM” = CRITICISM FORMAL + “-ISM” = FORMALISM CAPITAL + “-ISM” = CAPITALISM

Warning! Sometimes prefixes, suffixes, and roots are spelled differently, but mean the same thing. Example: The suffix “-ence” is also spelled “-ance”, but “state of being, fact, quality.”

Pop Quiz What are base words? What are compound words? What are prefixes? What are roots? What are suffixes? How do you punctuate prefixes and suffixes?