ISEE Lower Level: Verbal Reasoning

ISEE Lower Level

Advanced Topics

Word Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

Unlocking the Power of Word Parts

Many words are made up of smaller parts: roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Learning these parts is like having a secret code to unlock the meaning of new words!

What are Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes?

  • Root: The main part of the word that holds the basic meaning.
  • Prefix: Letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
  • Suffix: Letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or part of speech.

How to Use These Word Parts

  • Break a word into its parts to guess its meaning.
  • Remember common prefixes and suffixes to grow your vocabulary.
  • Practice by looking for these in your reading!

Why It Matters

Knowing word parts helps you understand more words, spell better, and become a word detective!

Examples

  • 'Unhappy' — 'un-' means 'not,' so 'unhappy' means 'not happy.'

  • 'Prehistoric' — 'pre-' means 'before,' so 'prehistoric' means 'before history.'

In a Nutshell

Word roots, prefixes, and suffixes help you figure out what words mean.

Key Terms

Prefix
A group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
Suffix
A group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning.
Root
The core part of a word that carries its basic meaning.