As Alva learned, it’s not always possible to look up unfamiliar terms in a glossary or a dictionary. However, if you take time to develop your “word attack” moves, you can make some very strong guesses about any word’s meaning.
The first word attack skill you’ll need to master is how to take words apart. To do that, you need to know what sections a word might include. Click each word part below to review how it functions in a word.
A base word is a simple word that consists of one part. Even though it does not yet have other word parts added to it, it can stand on its own as a word. Read is an example of a base word.
Unlike a base word, a word root cannot form a word on its own. Since it has to have other word parts added to it, it is often written with a hyphen at the end or beginning. The letters jud- form the root of words like judicial and prejudice.
An affix is a set of letters that is added to the beginning or the end of a root or a base word. Adding an affix to a base word changes the meaning of the word―either a little bit or a lot.
An affix added to the beginning of a root or a base word is called a prefix. Some common examples of prefixes are re- and pre-. Reread means to read again (the prefix re- means again). Preview means to view before (the prefix pre- means before).
An affix that is added to the end of a root or base word is called a suffix. Some common examples of suffixes are -ful and -able. Helpful means to be full of help (the suffix -ful means full of). Agreeable means able to agree with someone or something (the suffix -able means able to).
How good are you at recognizing word parts? Use the activity below to find out. Identify the prefix, root, or base word, and suffix in the word below each picture. (Not all words will have all of these parts.) Then, click the word to see if you’re right.
