Roots and Affixes

1. Roots and Affixes Students will determine the meaning of vocabulary using linguistic roots and affixes (e.g. Greek, Anglo-Saxon, Latin). Students will utilize these skills throughout the year.

2. ROOT, AFFIX, PREFIX, and SUFFIX • An English word can consist of three parts: the root, a prefix and a suffix. The root is the part of the word that contains the basic meaning (definition) of the word. The root is the base element of the word. A prefix is a word element that is placed in front of a root. A prefix changes the word's meaning or makes a new word. A suffix is a word element that is placed after the root. Prefixes and suffixes are called affixes because they are attached to a root.

3. Roots and Affixes A root is the part of a word that contains the basic word (definition) of the word. • A prefix is a letter or a group of letters attached to the beginning of a word that partly indicates its meaning. For example, the word prefix itself begins with a prefix--pre-, which generally means "before."

4. Roots and Affixes • PREFIX — a word part that can be added to the beginning of a word to make a new word. • SUFFIX — a word part that can be added to the end of a word to make a new word. • ROOT —the word that’s left over when prefixes and suffixes have been removed.

5. Roots and Affixes PREFIX ROOT WORD SUFFIX dis- infect -ant prewriting replacement misunderstand

6. Roots and Affixes Tap your brain! List as many words as you can think of that have the following prefixes: Now use the list of words you made and try to define each prefix. dis- pre- re-

7. AIMS Tip MAKE SURE you return to the passage to use the context to assist you in determining the meaning of the unknown word. WATCH OUT! for definitions that aren’t supported by context