VOCABULARY

PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES

 PREFIXES
A prefix is a set of letters that is added TO THE
BEGINNING of a word to change its MEANING.
 OTHER EXAMPLES
friendly ----> unfriendly
finished ----> unfinished
believable ----> unbelievable
acceptable ----> unacceptable
do ----> undo
plug in ----> unplug
 COMMON PREFIXES
Prefix Meaning Example word

dis- not, opposite of disagree

in-, im- not incorrect, impossible

mis- Incorrectly misunderstand

re- Again redo (do again)

un- Not uninteresting

below, lower, not
under- underwater
enough
 READ THE PARAGRAPH BELOW. WRITE EIGHT
WORDS THAT BEGIN WITH THE PREFIX DIS-.
She’s a Winner! Few people would disagree that track star
Wilma Rudolph was lightning fast. In the late 1950s and
early 1960s, Americans discovered Rudolph. She was the
first American woman to win three gold medals in one
Olympic Game. Born in a poor family, young Wilma wore a
brace on her left leg. Back then it was easy to discount her
chances for success. But Wilma was not discouraged by
her disability. She took off her brace every time she could.
As her legs grew stronger, her discomfort disappeared. Her
talent left others in disbelief. Today, Wilma Rudolph is
remembered as one of the top athletes of the twentieth
century!
 SUFFIXES
A suffix is a set of letters that is added IN
THE END of a word to change its WORD
CLASS.
 OTHER EXAMPLES
present ----> presentable
comfort ----> comfortable
depend ----> dependable
reach ----> reachable
enjoy ----> enjoyment
treat ----> treatment
govern ----> government
 COMMON SUFFIXES
ADJECTIVE SUFFIXES

Suffix Meaning Example word

-able, -ible able to be terrible
-ful full of beautiful
-less not having, without toothless

NOUN SUFFIXES

Suffix Meaning Example word

place or state of
-dom freedom
being
-er a person who does worker
-ment action or process payment
-ness state of being happiness
FILL THE BLANKS WITH
SUITABLE SUFFIXES
1. The woman can't stay still.
She always wants to move!
She is rest_____.
2. The dog is very cute! He's
ador_____!
3. Jason writes lots of lists, so
he always remembers what
he has to do. He never
forgets!
But Melanie can't
remember anything! She's
very forget_____!
 FILL THE BLANKS WITH SUITABLE
SUFFIXES
1.  I teach science in big a
university. I am a physics
teach_____.
2. Sir Alan is King Richard's
best knight. He is brave
and strong. He is the most
important knight in
Richard's whole king_____!
3. Henrietta is my best friend.
She is wonderful! The best
thing about her is her
kind_____. She is always
so nice to people!
4. The kids always have fun
together. They never
disagree or have an
argu_____.