ENGLISHENGLISHENGLISHENGLISH

Marcy_cb21

6666 Module 4

A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development

DECODING MEANING OF UNFAMILIAR WORDS USING STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

40

Dear Learner, How are you learner? Did you enjoy doing your module? I am sure you did a great job in answering the exercises. This module will help you discover the meaning of a word by breaking it apart or deconstructing it at the same time activities given will enhance your skills on deconstruction or structural analysis. Complete each word in the parenthesis by adding the appropriate prefix (under-, over-, ex-, and super-) to it. Write the new word on your paper.

1. (abundant) There is an __________ harvest of corn in the province of Isabela this year.

2. (supply) It is expected then that there will be an __________ of corn in this province.

3. (governor) The __________ of Isabela was responsible for the successful corn farming.

4. (estimated) The farmers __________ the volume of corn harvest they would have.

5. (fine) Modern corn grinders tend to produce __________ corn flour.

To the Learner

Let’s Try This

Let’s Learn This

41

• Are you done?

• Let’s check if we have the same answer.

1. overabundant 2. oversupply 3. ex-governor 4. underestimated 5. superfine

A. Affixes are letters or syllables added at the beginning or end

of a root word. Prefixes are letters or syllables placed before the root word or the base form of a word. A root word is the form of a word after all affixes are removed. A prefix changes the meaning of a word. For example, the word unloading has the prefix un- that means “opposite” or “not”. Unload, therefore, means the opposite of load, or not loading.

Here are more prefixes with their meaning and examples.

Prefix Meaning Example

under- less or less than average undernourished underweight underestimate

over- too much or in excess overfed overweight oversupply

ex- former ex-mayor ex-president ex-governor

super- superior supernatural superheat

Which word in the chart means each of the following?

1. less than the required average weight 2. too much supply 3. former town official 4. beyond power or law of nature 5. not well nourished

42

B. Understanding Words Through Their Suffixes Suffixes are letters or syllables added after the stem or the

root word. Knowing the meaning of suffixes will help us understand the meaning of the newly-formed words.

• The suffix – ward means to a certain direction, as in:

backward forward southward

• The suffix – let means little, as in: anklet eyelet piglet

• The suffix – able means capable or worthy of, as in:

manageable sustainable lovable

• The suffix – ation means denoting an action or an instance, as in: limitation reservation hesitation

• The suffix – less means without, as in:

clueless skinless useless

• The suffix – ment means state of being, as in: improvement treatment government

Read and analyze these sentences:

1. The freshness and sweetness of our local white corn make me overeat boiled ones.

2. Overjoyed because of the bountiful harvest, the farmers shared sacks of sweet corn to their neighbors.

Read and analyze the phrases:

1. to expose too much – overexpose 2. had too much sleep – overslept 3. former husband – ex-husband 4. man with superior strength – superman 5. a former priest – ex-priest

43

Pick out the words that contain the prefix indicated in each group. Use the dictionary if in doubt.

1. under – (less than) 2. over – (too much) a. underage a. overture b. underarm b. overtime c. undergo c. overripe d. undermanned d. overdraw e. underchange e. overt

3. ex – (former) 4. super – (superior)

a. ex-secretary a. superfine b. examine b. superfluous c. ex-governor c. supersonic d. excavate d. supervisor e. ex-mayor c. superb

• Are you done?

• Look at the Answer Key to check the answers.

• Write your score inside the box.

Let’s Do This

44

Affixes are used with root words. Affixes add to or change the meaning of the root or base words. Unlike root words, affixes can never be used alone. Affixes are either prefixes or suffixes. Prefixes always occur at the beginning of words. Suffixes, on the other hand, are always added at the end of a word.

Add the appropriate suffix to each word to form a new one. Note the given clue. Write your answers on a separate sheet.

1. taste (lacking flavor)

2. book (a little book)

3. explore (the action of travelling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it)

4. treat (medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury)

5. pay (able to be paid)

6. north (toward north)

7. develop (the process of being developed)

8. ally (a relationship based on an affinity in interests, nature, or qualities)

9. isle (a small island)

10. persevere (steadfast in doing something despite difficulty in achieving success)

Let’s Do More

Let’s Remember This

45

Rewrite each sentence adding the suffix –let or –ish to the root word inside the parentheses.

1. The sky looks (blue) today.

2. The children presented a (play) in front of their parents.

3. The man’s behavior is (child).

4. Rose looks (boy) in the new haircut.

5. Anna wears a (yellow) gown on her birthday party.

6. When he smells something foul, it makes him (squirm).

7. The book had a (flag) taped on it.

8. My father loves reading a (novel).

9. My friend is now becoming (self).

10. The painting of Mr. Baluyot looks (cartoon)

• Are you done?

• Look at the Answer Key to check the answers.

• If your score is 8-10, Congratulations! You may proceed to the next module.

• If your score is 6-7, Answer the next activity “Let’s Enrich Ourselves”.

• If your score is 5 and below, review the whole module.

Let’s Test Ourselves

46

Use the words you formed in “Let’s Do More” to complete each sentence below. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. The potato chips I bought was __________.

2. I read the __________ you gave me.

3. The United States is planning for the __________ of Mars.

4. The survivors of the plane crash were given __________ for their

injuries.

5. Mario’s new cellphone is __________ in two months.

6. The flock of migrating birds flew __________.

7. The __________ formed by the three countries aims to fight hunger

and poverty.

8. The __________ of a housing project will benefit many poor

families.

9. There is a small tribe inhabiting the __________.

10. Luis Yangco’s __________ paid off when he bought 100 bancas.

• Are you done?

• Look at the Answer Key again to check your answers.

• Write your score in the big ribbon.

• Congratulations! Job well done.

Let’s Enrich Ourselves

47

Let’s Do This

1. underage, undermanned, underchange

2. overtime, overripe, overdraw

3. ex-secretary, ex-governor, ex-mayor

4. superfine, supersonic, supervisor

Let’s Do More

1. tasteless 6. northward

2. booklet 7. development

3. exploration 8. alliance

4. treatment 9. islet

5. payable 10. perseverance

Let’s Test Ourselves

1. The sky looks bluish today.

2. The children presented a playlet in front of their parents.

3. The man’s behavior is childish.

4. Rose looks boyish in the new haircut.

5. Anna wears a yellowish gown on her birthday party.

6. When he smells something foul, it makes him squirmish.

7. The book had a flaglet taped on it.

8. My father loves reading a novelet.

9. My friend is now becoming selfish.

10. The painting of Mr. Baluyot looks cartoonish.

Answer Key

48

Let’s Enrich Ourselves

1. tasteless 6. northward

2. booklet 7. development

3. exploration 8. alliance

4. treatment 9. islet

5. payable 10. perseverance