Roots and AffixesHow words are created

Vocabulary

•(n.) Body of words used in a particular language

•English language consists of a almost 200,000 words

•Words range in length from “a” to “antidisestablishmentarianism”

Base Words

•Words that cannot be reduced down to smaller words ▫Ex.) Speak, dog, happy

•Other words or word parts can be added to them to make longer words▫Ex.) Happiness▫Ex.) Speaker

Word PartsThere are two kinds of word parts: roots and affixes.

A root is a word part that comes from another language, such as Greek or Latin.

An affix is a word part that can be attached to either a root or a base word to create a new word.

AFFIXES can be divided into two categories…

1. Prefixes(appear at the

beginning of words)

2. Suffixes (appear at the end of

words)

Common Prefixes Common Suffixes

Bi- two -ist Person who does action

Anti- against -less Without

Inter- between -ize Cause, treat, become

Pre- before -ism State or quality

Super- above -ship State or condition of

Trans- across -ward Specifies direction

Dis- not -ular Relating to/resembling

Many (not all) English words can be broken down like this…

Root AffixPrefi

xSuffi

x

For example…

In-cred-ible

Prefix +Root

+Suffix*Without a root word, affixes *Without a root word, affixes have nothing the change the have nothing the change the

meaning of.meaning of.

Meaning

•The meaning of a word is related to the meaning of its word parts.

•To unlock the meaning of an unfamiliar word, break the word down into its component parts; then think about the meaning of the word’s affixes and root.

Check it out

Roots Affixes

Latin Root: tang, meaning “touch”

Prefix: in-, meaning “not”

Suffix: -ible, meaing “able to”

Apply•For example one could analyze the word

intangible, using the chart shown previously.•First break the word into its parts:PREFIX ROOT SUFFIX ENGLISH

WORD In- + tang + -ible = intangible

Tang is a latin roots meaning “touch”In- is a prefix meaning “not”-ible is a suffix meaning “able to”

Word Families•A group of English words may be derived from

the same word part of root. Such a group is called a word family.

•You can use this knowledge to help you determine the meaning of unknown words.

Example: SolSolitary, soloist, desolate, solitaire, soliloquy

Example: SolSolitary, soloist, desolate, solitaire, soliloquy

What might SOL mean?

ALONE

What might SOL mean?

ALONE

Word Family Practice Questions:•Word family: ethnicity, ethnic,

ethnographer Root: ethn Meaning:

▫Ocean▫Nation▫Hesitation

Word Family Practice Questions:•Word family: maniac, maniacal

Root: mania Meaning:

▫Education▫Sanitation▫Madness

Word Family Practice Questions:•Word family: epidermis, dermatology

Root: derm Meaning:

▫Skin▫Body▫Mind

Word Family Practice Questions:•Word Family: laboratory, labor

Root: lab Meaning:

▫Work▫Good▫Weak

Let’s see what you know:

•Divide and indivisible are members of the same word family. Which root so they share?

A. –vis- B. -visible- C. -div-

•What is the meaning of this root? A. separate B. shrink C. junk

•What is another member of the same word family?

A. December B. dividend C. invisible

Vocab Scattegories!1. Individually, come up with as many

root and affix c0mbinations as you can.

2. After time is up, you will share your list with the four people around you.

3. Then your group of four will share the words that they had that no one within the group had.

Vocab Scattegories!

Within groups of four share your lists.

ALSO – cross check the list on the handout to make sure no one used an example word.

Have a list of your unique words ready to share to the class.

Example)

ConsecutiveCon + secu + ive

Con: WithSecu(t): To Follow

Ive: Having the nature of