Mastering Language Skills: Prefixes and Suffixes

1. Prefixes and Suffixes

2. Objectives • Use knowledge of root words as well as context clues and glossaries to understand specialized vocabulary in the content areas during reading. • Use these words accurately in speaking and writing. • Describe the origins and meanings of common, learned and foreign words used frequently in English language writing and literature. • Identify new words that have been added to the English language over time using prefixes.

3. How many words are in the English Language? • The Second Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary contains full entries for 171,476 words in current use, and 47,156 obsolete words. • To this may be added around 9,500 derivative words included as subentries. • Over half of these words are nouns, about a quarter adjectives, and about a seventh verbs; the rest is made up of interjections, conjunctions, prepositions, suffixes, etc. • These figures take no account of entries with senses for different parts of speech (such as noun and adjective).

4. Shrinking Vocabulary • The average sixth grade student knows approximately 25,000 words. • The average high school graduate knows approximately 50,000 words. • This means that average students learn roughly 2000-3,000 words a year (Graves, 2007). • This translates to 8 words a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year - including weekends or summers.

5. Half of all “high-frequency words” every day words, • and two-thirds of all academic and technical words are derived from Latin or Greek. • So learn the meanings of roots, prefixes, and suffixes and these basic elements make it easier to learn new words.

6. Prefixes • Number Prefixes • These prefixes indicate number value in a word: Bi- two —bicycle-two wheels Tri- three —triangle—three angles • Prefixes are added to the beginning of words to change a words meaning. Cycle is something you ride. Bicycle is something you ride with two wheels.

7. You try • Write a word that uses each prefix, then write a definition for the word: • Bi- • Tri-

8. Not Prefixes :These prefixes indicate the word not: • il—illegal—not legal • Im—impossible—not possible • In—inactive—not active • Ir—irregular—not regular • Non—nonsense—no sense • Un—unable—not able

9. You Try • Write a word that uses each prefix, then write a definition for the word: • il— • Im— • In— • Ir— • Non— • Un—

10. Direction Prefixes: • De—lower—descend-move to a lower place • Mid—middle—midway—middle of the way • In—in/into—inhale—breath in Im—in/into—import—bring into • Re—back—re curve—a backwards bend • Sub—under—submarine—underwater • Super—above—superimpose—place above

11. You Try • Write a word that uses each prefix, then write a definition for the word: • De— • Mid— • In— • Im— • Re— • Sub— • Super—

12. Time Prefixes: • Fore—ahead of time—forewarn—warn ahead of time • Pre—before—prefix—before the word • Re—again—redo—do again

13. You Try • Write a word that uses each prefix, then write a definition for the word: • Fore— • Pre— • Re—

14. Behavior Prefixes: • Mis—wrongly—misunderstand—wrongly understand • Mis—badly—misbehave—badly behave

15. You Try • Write a word that uses each prefix, then write a definition for the word: • Mis— • Mis—

16. Combining Prefixes: • Com—together—compact—packed together • Con—with—contact—communicate with

17. You Try • Write a word that uses each prefix, then write a definition for the word: • Com— • Con—

18. Suffixes • -ment action or process movement, bewilderment, government • -ness state of, condition of kindness, ruthlessness • -able, -ible can be done comfortable, capable, visible • -ful full of, having some or much useful, hopeful • -or    -er    -ar a person connected with (changes verb to noun) actor, runner, beggar – • ous -eous -ious possessing the quality of courteous, delicious, religious