1. Roots and Affixes
How words are created

2. How do we figure out what a word means if we don’t know it?
Today’s Warm-up
How do we figure out what a word means if we don’t know it?

3. Learning Objective Define affix, prefix, suffix, and root word
Analyze the use of root words and affixes
Analyze the use of Greek and Latin word roots to *determine the meaning of words.

4. Vocabulary
English vocabulary include short words like the article a as well as longer word such as inextricably and denunciation.
Short word such as speak and solve are called base words
Base words cannot be reduced to smaller parts.
Other words can be added to them to produce longer words with various meanings.

5. Word Parts There 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.

6. Affixes
Affixes can be divided into two categories: prefixes (appear at the beginning of words) and suffixes (appear at the end of words).
Common Prefixes
Common Suffixes
Bi two
-al adjectival suffix
Anti against
-fy verb suffix
Inter between
-ic adjectival suffix
Pre before
-ion noun suffix
Super above
-ism noun suffix
Trans across
-ize verb suffix
Dis not
-ous adjectival suffix

7. Suffixes: -ful joyful -ly sadly -ness kindness Prefixes: un- undo
APK
Prefixes:
un- undo
re- refill
pro- for,
forward
Prefixes are at the beginning of words.
pre- means before
fix means attach, repair
Suffixes:
-ful joyful
-ly sadly
-ness kindness
Suffixes are at the end of words.
So, “prefix” means “attached before.”

8. A root is a set of letters that have meaning. It is the most basic form . Affixes are added to the root to create a new word.
Example:
The Latin root ject means “throw”
So project can mean “to throw forward”
A root can be at the front, middle or end of a word.

9. English words can have all three parts:
prefix + root + suffix
ab + duct + ed
away from + to lead/pull + verb: past tense
abducted means ”pulled or lead away from”
i.e. The general was abducted by masked gunmen.
Word
Meaning
geology
earth study / study of the earth
telegraph
distance writing / writing that travels far
tricycle
three wheels
asocial
not being companionable /
not wanting to join others

10. Check it out Roots Affixes Latin Root: tang, meaning “touch”
Prefix: in-, meaning “not”
Greek Root: chrome, meaning “color”
Suffix: -ible, meaning “able to”

11. 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”

12. 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.

13. Which one of the following shows a root with an affix?
bicycle hippopotamus
How did you know?

14. 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.
Try this out:
Shared roots: solo, solitary, solitude
Root: sol= ?

15. Answer: Alone, can you think of other words in the family?
Solitare
Soloist
Based on your knowledge of the root and the meaning of other words in the same family, try to define the meaning of the above words.
Solitare- a card game played by one person
Soloist- one who performs alone

16. root + suffix
biology
bio = life
-logy = study of
So it means:
“the study of life”
astrology astro = stars -logy = study of So it means: "the study of stars”

17. The soldier had empathy for the prisoner.
prefix + root
enamor
en- = having
amor = love
What does enamor mean?
“having love”
empathy
em- = having
pathy = feeling
So it means:
“having feeling”
The soldier had empathy for the prisoner.

18. root + root pseudonym aqueduct pseudo = false aque = water nym = name
”false name”
Samuel Clemens wrote under the pseudonym “Mark Twain.”
aqueduct
aque = water
duct = to lead/pull
What is an aqueduct used for?
How do you know that?

19. Try one: Words: Diminish Diminutive Minimum
What do these words have in common?
Which words do you know?
What do you think the meaning of the root is?

20. Word Family Practice Questions:
Word family: ethnicity, ethnic, ethnographer Root: ethn Meaning:
Ocean
Nation
Hesitation

21. Word Family Practice Questions:
Word family: maniac, maniacal Root: mania Meaning:
Education
Sanitation
Madness

22. Word Family Practice Questions:
Word family: epidermis, dermatology Root: derm Meaning:
Skin
Body
Mind

23. Word Family Practice Questions:
Word Family: laboratory, labor Root: lab Meaning:
Work
Good
Weak

24. 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