ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning

A fun and engaging introduction to verbal reasoning skills for the ISEE Lower Level exam.

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.