prefix & suffix
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
•Prefixes are letters that are added to
the beginning of a word.
For example
preschool • The prefix is pre-
• The prefix pre means “before” so the word
preschool means “before school”
A prefix changes
the meaning of
a word.
Prefix Root Word New Word
im-(not)
polite impolite(not polite)
in-(not)
complete incomplete (not complete)
bi-(two)
cycle bicycle(two wheels)
non-(not)
stop nonstop(without stopping)
dis-(not or opposite of)
agree disagree(not agreeing)
re-(again)
use reuse(to use again)
•Suffixes are letters added to
the end of a word.
•A suffix also changes the meaning of a
word.
For example
careless• The suffix is –less
• The suffix –less means without so the word
careless means “without care”
Root Word Suffix New Word
home -less (without)
homeless(without a
home)
cheer -ful(full of)
cheerful(full of cheer)
shyness -ness(state or quality)
shyness(condition of being
shy)
Root Word Suffix New Word
farm -er (someone who)
farmer(someone who
farms)
act -or(someone who)
actor(someone who
acts)
bend -able (can be)
bendable(can be bent)
reverse -ible (can be)
reversible (can be reversed)
Root Words
• A root word is a real word.
• We make new words from root words by adding prefixes and suffixes.
•Sometimes the root word is also called the base
word
(That is a USEful piece of
information!!)
For example
• In the word unhappy the root word is happy
• In the word eventful the root word is event
What’s the root word?
• wildly• beautiful• sleepily
• uncomfortable• incomplete
What’s the root word?
• wildly• beautiful• sleepily • uncomfortabl
e• incomplete
• wild• beauty• sleepy• comfortable• complete
Can you think of any words with
prefixes and suffixes?
Practice Makes Perfect!! • http://www.funenglishgames.com/grammargames/prefixsuffix.html• http://www.fekids.com/kln/noflash.html• http://www.ezschool.com/Games/PrefixSuffix.html• http://www.tv411.org/lessons/cfm/vocabulary.cfm?
str=vocabulary&num=1&act=4&que=1• http://www.scholastic.com/kids/homework/spell_it_out.htm