Dis-

Anti--ion

-ped-

-able Non-

Auto-

-spec-

Teach Students about Word Parts

Derivatives (root words) Affixes:

Prefixes Suffixes

These word parts come from other languages like Greek or Latin. They are often the source of odd English spellings.

Prefixes Added to the beginning of

words Change the meaning of words

Example: Cover means hide from

view. Discover means to find.

Common PrefixesPrefix Meaning Example

anti- against antibiotic

auto- self automatic

dis- not disconnect

in- not insane

il- not illegal

im- not immature

ir not irregular

inter- between intermarry

mis- wrong misspell

Common PrefixesPrefix Meaning Example

post- after postnatal

pre- before prehistoric

pro- for or forward propose, project

re again, back rewrite

sub- under submarine

super- above supervisor

trans- across transplant

un- not, in reverse unfinished

Suffixes Added to end of words Change word’s function

and meaning Example

Exclaim is a verb meaning to shout suddenly

Exclamation is a noun meaning noisy talk

Common SuffixesSuffix Meaning Example

-able, ible is, can be comfortable

-ar, -er, -or one who farmer

-en to make strengthen

-er more stronger

-ess one who (fem)

waitress

-est most smartest

-ette small kitchenette

-ful full of joyful

Common SuffixesSuffix Meaning Example

-ish relating to childish

-ist one who practices

biologist

-less without thoughtless

-like resembling lifelike

-ly resembling fatherly

-ment action government

-ness quality of kindness

-ship quality of friendship

Derivatives Root words Base words Carry the most

meaning Most English

words are built from at least one root.

Common DerivativesDerivative Meaning Example

act (L) do action

aero (G) air aerobics

ast (G) star astronaut

bio (G) life biography

corp (L) body corporation

cycl (G) circle bicycle

geo (G) earth geography

graph (G) write autograph

Common DerivativesDerivative Meaning Example

liber (L) free liberate

ped (G) foot pedal

rupt (L) break erupt

san (L) health sanitary

saur (G) lizard stegosaurus

scop (G) see microscope

spec (L) see spectacle

struct (L) build construct

Put It All Together And…

Analyze transport Latin root = port

Means “to carry” Prefix = trans

Means across Transport = carry across Add a suffix - ation

Means action or process Transportation = the act of

carrying something across a space

Porter Exportable Reporter

Portable Deport Importer

Importable Deportation Portage

Import Important portfolio

Export Report transport

Transfer this knowledge to understand all of these words

Caution!!! It is impossible to learn ALL of the

possible root words, prefixes or suffixes

It is better for you to generalize unknown words from known words

Example: I know that a biologist studies life, so a chemist probably studies chemistry.