Word Stems: Building blocks for language

You will remember that the Celtic tribes were conquered by Romans who spoke Latin & Greek. You will remember that the Celtic tribes were conquered by Romans who spoke Latin & Greek.

And then centuries later, the Renaissance caused Latin & Greek to influence the English language again. And then centuries later, the Renaissance caused Latin & Greek to influence the English language again.

Latin & Greek also influenced Spanish, French, and Italian, so when we borrow from these languages, we are often also borrowing from Latin or Greek.

Because of the impact of Latin & Greek, many of our words are made of two or three fragments of Latin. We sometimes call these pieces prefixes, suffixes, roots, or stems. Because of the impact of Latin & Greek, many of our words are made of two or three fragments of Latin. We sometimes call these pieces prefixes, suffixes, roots, or stems. If you know the Latin & Greek stems, you can discover the meaning of many words. For example, sub means under and terr means land. Knowing this can help you understand a word like subterranean, which means underground. For example, sub means under and terr means land. Knowing this can help you understand a word like subterranean, which means underground.

Each time you learn one easy stem, you have learned an important part of dozens of English words, so learning stems is power learning. Each time you learn one easy stem, you have learned an important part of dozens of English words, so learning stems is power learning. You only have to study one small thing in order to learn parts of dozens of things! You only have to study one small thing in order to learn parts of dozens of things!

All of our quizzes will be cumulative. You must prepare yourself to be a disciplined student, reviewing all lists for all quizzes. The point is to learn these stems now, and to know them for the rest of your life. All of our quizzes will be cumulative. You must prepare yourself to be a disciplined student, reviewing all lists for all quizzes. The point is to learn these stems now, and to know them for the rest of your life.

Word Stems – Lesson One Don’t forget to fill in your chart Don’t forget to fill in your chart The stem The stem The stem’s definition The stem’s definition At least one example of a word that uses the stem At least one example of a word that uses the stem

SUB = under Submarine A submarine goes under the sea.

SUB = under Submerge To submerge is to put something under the surface.

SUB = under Subdue To subdue is to bring someone under your control.

BI = two Bicycle A bicycle has two wheels.

BI = two Bilingual Someone who is bilingual can speak two languages.

BI = two Biannual A biannual event happens twice a year.

VAC = empty Vacuum A vacuum is a space emptied of matter. (Emptying air out of its chamber is part of how a vacuum you clean carpets with works)

VAC = empty Evacuate During a fire drill, we evacuate the building, which means we empty the building.

VAC = empty Vacation A vacation is a time empty of work.

PRE = before Predict To predict is to announce something before it even happens.

PRE = before Prepare If you prepare food, you are getting it ready before you cook it.

PRE = before Preschool A preschool is somewhere you go before you start school.

SUPER = over Supervise To supervise is to watch over people.

SUPER = over Superior If one blender is superior, it is over the other one in quality.

SUPER = over Supermodel A supermodel is over a normal model.

UN = not Unequal If something is unequal, it is not equal.

UN = not Unnecessary If this sign is unnecessary, than it is not necessary.

UN = not Untied If your laces are untied, then they are not tied.

INTER = between International An international agreement is between nations.

INTER = between Intermission An intermission is a break between two parts of a performance.

INTER = between Intersection An intersection is between two streets.

SEMI = half Semicircle A semicircle is a half circle.

SEMI = half Semiformal A semiformal dance is halfway between casual and formal.

SEMI = half Semifinals If you make the semifinals, you are halfway to the finals.

DIS = away Dismiss To dismiss someone is to send them away.

DIS = away Distract To distract someone is to take their attention away from where it was before.

DIS = away Disagree If you disagree with someone, you are moving away from agreement.

SYM = together Symmetry Things that have symmetry are together in their form or arrangement.

SYM = together Symphony A symphony is when many different instruments or sounds come together as one.

SYM = together Symposium A symposium is a gathering where people come together to discuss a particular topic.

Based on what you learned about stems, what is most likely the definition of Interstellar? a. An exploding planet b. A type of radiation c. The space between stars d. A type of medical device used in surgery C

Based on what you learned about stems, what is most likely the definition of Sympatric? a. The process by which caterpillars become butterflies b. Two species of animal that occupy the same area c. A medical technician specializing in x- rays d. An error in logic B

Review Stemmeaning BiSubVacPreSuper two under before empty over

Review Stemmeaning UnInterSemiDisSym not between away half together

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