Analyzing Word Analyzing Word PartsParts

Analyzing Word Analyzing Word PartsParts

Prefixes & SuffixesPrefixes & Suffixes

Analyzing Word Parts• Sometimes you can infer, or figure

out, the meaning of a word from the meanings of its parts. Words can have four different kinds of parts:

base wordsword rootsprefixessuffixes

Base Words

• A base word is a complete word that can stand alone. However, other words or word parts may be added to base words to form new words.

Examplesearch + light = searchlight

Prefixes

• A prefix is a word part attached to the beginning of a base word or word part. The meaning of the newly formed word is often a combination of the meaning of the prefix and the word or word part to which it is attached.

Prefixes

• For example, the prefix re- means “again, back, or backward.” When it is added to the word view, the new word, review, means “to examine again, look back over, or study.

Common PrefixesPrefix Meanings Examplesa- on, in, without aboarddis- absence of, not dislikeem-, en- in encourageinter- among, between interactover- too much overloadpro- before, in place of pronoun

Suffixes• A suffix is a word part attached to

the end of a base word or a word part. A suffix usually determines the part of speech of a word. For example, by adding different suffixes to the adjective short you can create shorten (verb), shortness (noun), and shortly (adverb).

Suffixes• You can create many new words

from just one base word by adding different prefixes and suffixes to it. See how many words you can make by combining these word parts with act.

Prefix Base Suffixre- ionover- act iveen- or

Suffixes• Did you notice that while react and

overact have the same base word, the different prefixes give the words very different meanings?

• Likewise, although active and actor are very similar words, the suffix –ive makes active an adjective while the suffix –or makes actor a noun.

Using Prefixes & Suffixes See how many word you can build from theword parts below. Check your answers andspelling in a dictionary.

Prefix Base Suffixdis- miss -ableinter- play -alover pose -ionre- -ible

-ive