Root Words, Prefixes and Suffixes

What are root words? Root words are real words that mean something on their own. For example: like, cap, and luck are root words. Root words are also words that form new words when you add new parts to them.

Some examples of root words… like cycle tie cap turn stop

Use root words to make new words. Think of a puzzle piece. You add pieces to the puzzle piece to make something new. The root word is your middle puzzle piece. Word parts called prefixes and suffixes connect to the front or back to make a new word.

What are prefixes? Prefixes are word parts that come at the beginning of a root word. Prefixes are usually not real words on their own. For example, un is a prefix; you cannot use un by itself in a sentence.

Some examples of prefixes… in- bi- dis- re- super- tri-

Prefixes do mean something Although not a real word, every prefix means something. For example, bi means two By adding a prefix to the front of root word, you change the meaning of the root word. Think of the engine at the front of a train.

For example… un = not or the opposite of clear = easy to understand, obvious un + clear = unclear Something that is unclear is not easy to understand.

Examples of Common Prefixes bi- = twopre-=before, ahead of dis-=not, opposite of re-=again, back in-=in, withinsuper- =bigger, above, better mis-=bad, wrongun-=not, do the opposite

What are suffixes? Suffixes are word parts that come at the end of a root word. Suffixes are usually, suffixes are not real words on their own. For example, ly is a suffix; can you use ly by itself in a sentence?

Some examples of suffixes… -able -er -ful -less -like -ness

Suffixes also have meanings Like prefixes, every suffix also has its own meaning, or meanings. By adding a suffix to the end of a root word, you change the meaning of the root word. Think of a caboose at the end of a train.

For example… less = without care = worry, concern care + less = careless Someone who is careless is without worry or concern.

Examples of Common Suffixes -able=able to-like=like something -ate=to make-ly=in a certain way -ful=full of-ness=a way of being -less=without-ship=a way of being

Knowing these word parts will help you figure out word meanings. The teacher was feeling agreeable and let the class go outside for recess early. You may not know what the meaning of the root, agree. Yet if you know able = likely to, you know this means the teacher is likely to agree.

Now look at the rest of the sentence You know that the class went outside for recess early. So agreeable is probably a good thing, which gets you closer to its meaning.

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