•Prefixes are letters that are added to

the beginning of a word.

For example

preschool • The prefix is pre-

• The prefix pre means “before” so the word

preschool means “before school”

A prefix changes

the meaning of

a word.

Prefix Root Word New Word

im-(not)

polite impolite(not polite)

in-(not)

complete incomplete (not complete)

bi-(two)

cycle bicycle(two wheels)

non-(not)

stop nonstop(without stopping)

dis-(not or opposite of)

agree disagree(not agreeing)

re-(again)

use reuse(to use again)

•Suffixes are letters added to

the end of a word.

•A suffix also changes the meaning of a

word.

For example

careless• The suffix is –less

• The suffix –less means without so the word

careless means “without care”

Root Word Suffix New Word

home -less (without)

homeless(without a

home)

cheer -ful(full of)

cheerful(full of cheer)

shyness -ness(state or quality)

shyness(condition of being

shy)

Root Word Suffix New Word

farm -er (someone who)

farmer(someone who

farms)

act -or(someone who)

actor(someone who

acts)

bend -able (can be)

bendable(can be bent)

reverse -ible (can be)

reversible (can be reversed)

Root Words

• A root word is a real word.

• We make new words from root words by adding prefixes and suffixes.

•Sometimes the root word is also called the base

word

(That is a USEful piece of

information!!)

For example

• In the word unhappy the root word is happy

• In the word eventful the root word is event

What’s the root word?

• wildly• beautiful• sleepily

• uncomfortable• incomplete

What’s the root word?

• wildly• beautiful• sleepily • uncomfortabl

e• incomplete

• wild• beauty• sleepy• comfortable• complete

Can you think of any words with

prefixes and suffixes?

Practice Makes Perfect!! • http://www.funenglishgames.com/grammargames/prefixsuffix.html• http://www.fekids.com/kln/noflash.html• http://www.ezschool.com/Games/PrefixSuffix.html• http://www.tv411.org/lessons/cfm/vocabulary.cfm?

str=vocabulary&num=1&act=4&que=1• http://www.scholastic.com/kids/homework/spell_it_out.htm