Download Word Parts Review

Word Parts Review – Mini
TEKS – 7.2A
Determine the meaning of grade-level academic English words derived from Latin, Greek, or other
linguistic roots and affixes.
Root Words
- A root word is a word part. It does not stand alone as a word.
- A root word contains the basic meaning of the word it is in.
- A root word often comes from another language, like Latin or Greek.
- A root word may appear anywhere in the word.
Example: The root word port is a Latin root meaning “to carry.” It is used with that meaning in words
like transport and portable.
Base Words
Base words are words that can stand alone and have their own meaning.
Example: Port is also a base word. It stands alone and means the left side of a ship or aircraft.
Prefix
A prefix is a letter or group of letters that can be added to a root word. We know that the prefix is
added to the beginning of a root word because pre- means before. Adding a prefix to a root word
changes the meaning of the root.
Example:
When we add the prefix trans-, meaning across or through, to the root word port, we end up with the
word transport, meaning to carry across or through.
Suffix
A suffix is a letter or group of letters that can be added to a root word also. They are added to the end
of the root word. Suffixes can change the meaning of the root word, change the function of the root
word or change its part of speech.
Example: When we add the suffix –able, meaning “capable of,” to transport, we create the word
transportable, meaning “capable of being carried across.”
We changed the meaning and also the function (part of speech) of the word transport. Transport is a
verb, but by adding –able to the end, we create the adjective, transportable.
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Prefix - Suffix - Root - ???
When looking at a word part, if the hyphen is to the left of the word part, it is a suffix. (-ly)
When looking at a word part, if the hyphen is to the right of the word part, it is a prefix. (pre-)
A root word may not have hypens displayed with it, or it may have hyphens on both sides. (-sum-)
cb/updated July 2013