1. Prefixes and Suffixes Created by Vanessa Pelfrey
Revised by: Lesley Pittman

2. Prefixes are letters that are added to the beginning of a word.

4. For example
preschool
The prefix is pre-
The prefix pre means “before” so the word preschool means “before school”

5. A prefix changes the meaning of a word.

6. Prefix Root Word New Word
im-
(not)
polite
impolite
(not polite)
in-
complete
incomplete
(not complete)
bi-
(two)
cycle
bicycle
(two wheels)
non-
stop
nonstop
(without stopping)
dis-
(not or opposite of)
agree
disagree
(not agreeing)
re-
(again)
use
reuse
(to use again)

7. Suffixes are letters added to the end of a word.

8. A suffix also changes the meaning of a word.

10. For example
careless
The suffix is –less
The suffix –less means without so the word careless means “without care”

11. (condition of being shy)
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)
(condition of being shy)

12. farm -er (someone who) farmer (someone who farms) act -or actor
Root Word
Suffix
New Word
farm
-er
(someone who)
farmer
(someone who farms)
act
-or
actor
(someone who acts)
bend
-able
(can be)
bendable
(can be bent)
reverse
-ible
reversible
(can be reversed)

13. A root word is a real word.
Root Words
A root word is a real word.
We make new words from root words by adding prefixes and suffixes.

14. Sometimes the root word is also called the base word
(That is a USEful piece of information!!)

15. For example In the word unhappy the root word is happy
In the word eventful
the root word is event

16. What’s the root word in each of the following words
What’s the root word in each of the following words? Write the whole word and put a box around the root word.
preview 8. teacher
careful 9. passes
happiness 10. treatment
regain
kindness
following
peaceful

17. Can you think of any words with prefixes and suffixes?