Prefixes and Suffixes

Base Words  Base words, or root words, is a word that can stand alone. love sleep help decide take understand

Prefixes  A group of letters added to the beginning of a base word that changes the meaning of that word. un- not re- again mis- wrongly dis- opposite of pre- before in- not

Adding Prefixes to Words  Re- + play = replay  Un- + lucky = unlucky  Mis- + understand = misunderstand  Pre- + test = pretest  Dis- + approve = disapprove  In- + complete = incomplete (play again) (not lucky) (understand wrongly) (to test before) (opposite of approve) (not complete)

Suffixes  A group of letters added to the end of a root word that changes the meaning of that word. -able able to be -less without -ful full of -er one who does -ly in a way that is -y being

Adding Suffixes to Words  Hope + -ful = hopeful  Excite + -able = excitable  Sleep + -less = sleepless  Rapid + -ly = rapidly  Dream + -y = dreamy  Work + -er = worker (full of hope) (able to excite easily) (without sleep) (in a way that is rapid) (being like a dream) (one who does work)