1. Prefixes and suffixes
Here we 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.
They can help us to
understand and to
spell words.

2. con = with/together; de = down; ob = in the way.
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.

3. Antonym prefixes inaccurate impolite illegal unhelpful irregular
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.
E.g.
inaccurate means not accurate
Look at these words. The prefixes are in red.
inaccurate
impolite
illegal
unhelpful
irregular
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?
What is the effect of the prefix in each case?

4. Further work can easily be done here, looking for and explaining examples of the prefixes indicated.

5. Latin and Greek prefixes
This is a good opportunity to do some dictionary work, looking for the roots and origins of classically based words.
See how many words you can make with these prefixes. Try making a list of other classical prefixes.

7. Now list as many words as you can that use these prefixes.

8. 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.

10. Suffixes for words ending in e
Look at what happens when we add suffixes to a word ending in e (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?
Note: words ending in a soft ce or ge, usually keep the e before able and ous, e.g.knowledgeable, courageous
If the suffix begins with a vowel, the e is usually dropped. If the suffix begins with a consonant, the e remains.

11. 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.)

13. Look what happens when we add full to a word.
-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.

14. cian, sion and tion suffixes
Many words have endings like these. They make a shun sound. Here are some examples.
optician
dietician
magician
detention
fiction
action
instruction
collision
extension
fusion
explosion
These words end in tion, the most common of the ‘shun’ words.
These words end in sion. The root word ends in d/de or s/se, e.g. collide.
These cian endings usually indicate jobs/people.

16. Plenary
Knowledge about
prefixes and suffixes
can help our
understanding
of words.
Watch out,
in particular, to words
ending in e and y.
They can be tricky!
It can help our
spelling too.