Roots and Affixes How words are created Standards

Roots and Affixes How words are created

Standards ELAGSE 7 L 4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. b. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word.

Essential Questions • How can breaking down a word into parts assist you with figuring out the meaning of a word? • What are root words and affixes?

Vocabulary • English vocabulary include short words like the article a as well as longer word such as 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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 In-ible is a latin roots meaning “touch” is a prefix meaning “not” is a suffix meaning “able to”

root + suffix astrology astro = stars -logy = study of So it means: "the study of stars”

root + suffix biology (Root)____ = (definition) _____ (Suffix) _____ = (definition) ____ So it means: _____

root + suffix biology bio = life -logy = study of So it means: “the study of life”

prefix + root empathy em- = having pathy = feeling So it means: “having feeling”

prefix + root enamor (prefix)______ = (definition)_____ (root)_____ = (definition)_______ What does enamor mean? ___________

prefix + root enamor en- = having amor = love What does enamor mean? “having love”

root + root pseudonym pseudo = false nym = name “false name” Samuel Clemens wrote under the pseudonym “Mark Twain. ”

root + root aqueduct (root)__________ = (definition)______________ What is an aqueduct used for? ___________

root + root aque = water duct = to lead/pull What is an aqueduct used for? An aqueduct is used to carry water across long distances.

prefix + root + suffix carnivore (prefix)_____ = (definition)_____ (root)_____ = (definition)_____ (suffix) _____ = (definition)_____ What is a carnivore? _____________

prefix + root + suffix carnivore carni = meat vor = eat -e = one who What does carnivore mean? “one who eats meat”

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= ?

Word Families • What is the shared root of these following words: solo, solitary, solitude?

Word Families • What is the shared root of these following words: solo, solitary, solitude? Sol

Word Families • Based on your knowledge of the root and the meaning of other words in the same family of sol, try to define the meaning of solitare and soloist.

Word Families • Solitare- a card game played by one person • Soloist- one who performs alone

Word Family Practice Questions: • Word family: ethnicity, ethnic, ethnographer Root: ethn • What is the meaning? A. Ocean B. Nation C. Hesitation

Word Family Practice Questions: • Word family: maniac, maniacal Root: mania • What is the meaning? A. Education B. Sanitation C. Madness

Word Family Practice Questions: • Word family: epidermis, dermatology derm • What is the meaning? A. Skin B. Body C. Mind Root:

Word Family Practice Questions: • Word Family: laboratory, labor Root: lab • What is the meaning? A. Work B. Good C. Weak

Let’s see what you know: • Divide and indivisible are members of the same word family. Which root do 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