Unit 8

Vocabulary Instruction Component of a Comprehensive Reading Program

Section

Structural Analysis

31

Handout 7:

Common Affixes and Their Meanings

Prefixes
Prefixes are letter groups added before a base word or root. Prefixes generally add to or change the meaning of a word.
Prefix AbAdAfterAntiAutoBeBiCom, con, coContraDeDeciDisE, exEn, emExtraImInInterMacroMagniMegaMicroMisNonOverPostPreProReSubSuperTeleMeaning away from to, toward later, behind against, opposed self make two with, together against downward, undo ten not out of, prior to in, into, cover outside not into, not among large great huge small wrongly not above, beyond after before, prior to in favor of again under, beneath above, beyond far Example absent, abnormal advance, addition aftermath, afterward antibiotic, antigravity automobile, autobiography believe, belittle bicycle, biceps commune, concrete contradict, contrary deflate, defect decibels, decimal dislike, distrust explain, expense engage, employ extravagant, extraterrestrial

H A ND O UT S

impose, imply include, incurable interact, internal macroeconomics, macrotiotic magnify, magnificent megaphone, megabucks miscroscope, microbe mistake, mislead nonsense, nonviolent overflow, overdue postdate, postmark preheat, prehistoric protest, protect repeat, revise submarine, subject superior, supernatural telescope, telephone

2007 Iowa Department of Education

Every Child Reads: Excellence in Teaching and Learning

P_08.VOCAB.STAN_08.31.2007

Unit 8

Vocabulary Instruction Component of a Comprehensive Reading Program

Section

Structural Analysis

32

Handout 7 (continued) Common Affixes and Their Meanings

Prefix TransTriUnUltraUnderUniMeaning across three not beyond beneath, below one, single Example transfer, transit tricycle, triangle unknown, unjust ultraviolet, ultrasuede underneath, underline unicorn, uniform

Suffixes
Suffixes are groups of letters added after a base word or root. The following is a sample of the wide variety.
Suffix -ant -ar -arium -ble -ent -er -er -ery, ry -ess -est -ful -ing -ing -less -ling -ly -ly -ness -ology -or -ous -s, es -y Meaning one who one who place for inclined to one who one who more products one who (female) most full of material (present tense) without small every (adverb) state of being study of one who full of more than one state of Example assistant liar aquarium gullible resident teacher brighter pottery actress most***** mouthful roofing smiling motherless fledgling weekly happily happiness biology doctor wondrous boxes sunny

H A ND O UT S

Pinnell, G.S., Fountas, I.C. (1998). Word matters: Teaching phonics and spelling in the reading/writing classroom. Plymouth, NH: Heinemann.
Every Child Reads: Excellence in Teaching and Learning P_08.VOCAB.STAN_08.31.2007

2007 Iowa Department of Education