Roots and Affixes

Root Words

A root word is a single word that cannot be broken down into smaller words or word parts.

Look at the words to the left. Correct is the root word. Because these words have the same root word in common, they are all in the same word family.

Prefixes

A prefix is a pair or group of letters added to the front of a base word.

Prefix Prompts

  • What word part do you see?

  • What does that word part mean?

  • What does the entire word mean?

Let's Practice...

Look at the following words. Identify the root word. What prefix is used? How does it change the meaning of the word?

unhappy impossible nontoxic inappropriate impolite