Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
Learning Objectives
In this lesson, you will focus on the following objectives:
Vocabulary: Understanding word parts: roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
Vocabulary: Understanding word parts: roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
Affixes
- A prefix is a word part that is inserted at the beginning of a word root or a base word to create a new meaning.
- A suffix is a combination of letters or a single letter added at the end of a base word or a word part.
- Prefixes and suffixes together are called affixes.
Literature Connection
One way to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word is to analyze its parts.
“The girl kept to her work, her face averted and her eyes on what she was doing.”
—John Steinbeck, from “Breakfast”
The Latin root vert means “turn.” It is a common root, found in the words averse, aversion, reverse, subvert, divert, and others. The prefix a- can mean “in the state or condition of”; and the suffix -ed shows past tense; so an averted face is turned away.
Recognizing some common Greek and Latin prefixes, suffixes, and word roots or base words will help you understand what you read.
| Prefixes | Roots | Suffixes |
|---|---|---|
| geo- Earth | graph writing of | -ical having the nature o |
| dis- the reverse of | place position | -ment the condition of being |
| contra- against | dic(t) speak | -tion action or process of |
| in- within, into | spir breathe | -ed the past tense of a verb |
Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes Quiz
For each item below, refer to the prefixes, roots, and suffixes in the chart to help you select the best answer.