2. Words don’t grow like plants or flowers, but small words
can grow into large words when you learn about
prefixes, suffixes, and root words.
When you learn how these words can grow, it will
improve your reading skills.
3. ROOT WORDS
This is the basic part of a word.
An example could be the word “happy”.
4. AFFIXES
Letters added to the beginning or end of a
root word. These letters can change the
meaning of the word.
There are two types: Prefixes & Suffixes
5. PREFIXES
Added to the beginning of a root word to make a new
word.
It’s like adding a link to a chain. The prefix and the
root word link together to make a new word.
6. PREFIXES
If you add the prefix un- to the root
word happy, you have a completely new
word with a new meaning.
7. COMMON PREFIXES
& THEIR MEANINGS
PREFIX MEANING
dis- the opposite of, not
im-, in- not
bi- two or both, once every two
mis- badly, wrong, not
il-, ir- not
non- the opposite of, not
8. COMMON PREFIXES
& THEIR MEANINGS
PREFIX MEANING
over- beyond, more than
pre- before
re- again
un- the opposite of, not
under- beneath, less than
ex- out of, away from
9. SUFFIXES
Added to the end of a root word to
make a new word.
Adding another link to the chain, but at the
end.
10. SUFFIXES
Add the suffix -ness to the word happy and
you get the word happiness.
With suffixes, you can’t always just stick it
on the end of a word.
11. COMMON SUFFIXES
& THEIR MEANINGS
SUFFIX MEANING
able to be or become something worthy of, being or
-able, -ible becoming something
-en to make or become, made from
-er, -or person who
-ful acting in a certain way, having alot of something
-ish belonging to a nation, like, somewhat
-less without, missing something
-ly in such a way as, happening sometimes
12. COMMON SUFFIXES
& THEIR MEANINGS
SUFFIX MEANING
-ment action or process, result of action or process
-ness a way of being something, appearing some way
-ous full of, having
-al relating to action
-ic characterized by, in the manner of
-ance action or process, state of, amount of
13. PREFIXES & SUFFIXES
Root words can have both a prefix and
a suffix added to them
move re-move mov-able re-mov-able
