1. Vocabulary Instruction R1E
Roots and Affixes
Vocabulary Instruction
R1E

2. Understanding Roots and Affixes
Affixes include prefixes and suffixes and combined with root words (base words) they can quickly multiply the number of words you know.
It is more efficient to memorize the meaning of these word parts than to memorize definitions that you will end up forgetting in a few days anyway.

3. Word Roots
A word’s root is the part of the word that carries the most meaning.
Latin and Greek roots are extremely important in unlocking vocabulary you never knew before.
For example if you know that there are two Latin words that mean “light”- luc and lum- you can at least begin to figure out the words on the following slide.

4. Luc and Lum practice Luminous Lucid Translucent Illuminate Luminary
radiating or reflecting light
easily understood, clear perception or understanding
clear, easily understandable
To supply with light, to enlighten as with knowledge
a celestial body (sun or moon), a body or object that gives off light

5. Affixes: prefixes and suffixes
It might have helped you on some of these words to know some affixes for example:
-ous is a suffix that creates an adjective
Trans- means across or through
Il- means not

6. Prefixes
Prefixes can be added to the beginnings of many words to change the word’s meaning.
For example, the prefix un- gives the opposite meaning to any word it is added to.
Some prefixes have more than one meaning but having these memorized will enable your vocabulary to transcend its normal range.

7. Suffixes A suffix is placed at the end of a word or part of a word.
When you add suffixes you often change the word’s function (part of speech) as well as its meaning.
Check out the example on the next slide.

8. Suffixes WORD FUNCTION MEANING Clamant Adjective Noisy Clamorer Noun
One who makes noise
Clamor
Verb
To make loud sounds
Claimant
A person who makes a claim
Exclaimed
Shouted suddenly
Exclamation
Noisy talk; outcry
Exclamatory
Expressing emotion

9. Putting words together
Knowing your roots and affixes is good start to mastering the word parts and overcoming your lack of vocabulary, and here are some helpful tips to help.
LISTEN UP!

10. Most words in English are built from at least one root:
Narrate
Scribe
Serve
Mariner
Lunar
Vagrant

11. Words do not always have both a prefix and a suffix.
Words with one prefix
Promote
Retract
Consent
Words with one suffix
Signal
Creation
Mechanize
Words with neither
Sleep
Light
Plead
Eat
Mold

12. Words can have more than one root, prefix, or suffix
Words with 2 roots:
Anthropology
Barometer
Photograph
Psychology
Words with 2 prefixes:
Unenlightened
Intercontinental
Deconstruct
Words with 2 suffixes:
Anonymously
Mindlessly
brightened

13. Brief Move Exclaim Brevity Mobile Exclamation
Often the spelling of a base word changes with it is combined with a prefix or suffix
Brief
Move
Exclaim
Brevity
Mobile
Exclamation

14. Some more helpful tips:
Collect Roots and Related Words (I have attached and handed you a very comprehensive list to start with)
Play Word Games (here are some online sites)
Vocabulary.com
Visual vocabulary
Prefixes video
Roots and Their Families Part I and Part II
Use the words

15. The End