1. Analyzing Word Parts
Prefixes & Suffixes

2. Analyzing Word Parts
Sometimes you can infer, or figure out, the meaning of a word from the meanings of its parts. Words can have four different kinds of parts:
base words
word roots
prefixes
suffixes

3. Base Words
A base word is a complete word that can stand alone. However, other words or word parts may be added to base words to form new words.
Example
search + light = searchlight

4. Prefixes
A prefix is a word part attached to the beginning of a base word or word part. The meaning of the newly formed word is often a combination of the meaning of the prefix and the word or word part to which it is attached.

5. Prefixes
For example, the prefix re- means “again, back, or backward.” When it is added to the word view, the new word, review, means “to examine again, look back over, or study.

6. Common Prefixes Prefix Meanings Examples a- on, in, without aboard
dis- absence of, not dislike
em-, en- in encourage
inter- among, between interact
over- too much overload
pro- before, in place of pronoun

7. Suffixes
A suffix is a word part attached to the end of a base word or a word part. A suffix usually determines the part of speech of a word. For example, by adding different suffixes to the adjective short you can create shorten (verb), shortness (noun), and shortly (adverb).

8. Suffixes
You can create many new words from just one base word by adding different prefixes and suffixes to it. See how many words you can make by combining these word parts with act.
Prefix Base Suffix
re ion
over act ive
en or

9. Suffixes
Did you notice that while react and overact have the same base word, the different prefixes give the words very different meanings?
Likewise, although active and actor are very similar words, the suffix –ive makes active an adjective while the suffix –or makes actor a noun.

10. Using Prefixes & Suffixes
See how many word you can build from the
word parts below. Check your answers and
spelling in a dictionary.
Prefix Base Suffix
dis- miss -able
inter- play -al
over pose -ion
re ible
-ive