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
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