Understanding New Words
English: Year 3 & 4 National Curriculum, topic 1.1.1
Understanding New Words
We can break down words into different parts to help us figure out new meanings of words.
Prefix
- A prefix is a word or group of letters at the start of the word which changes the meaning.
- For example:
- In bicycle, 'bi' is a prefix meaning two.
- So bicycle means a cycle with two wheels.
Suffix
- A suffix is a word or group or letters at the end of a word which changes the meaning.
- For example:
- In cycling, 'ing' is a suffix that means the root word is happening continuously or right now.
- So cycling means the activity cycling is happening right now.
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Importance of root words
- We work out the meaning of words based on the root word, which is the base word (so not the prefix or suffix!).
- For example: cycle is a root word.
Test yourself on Understanding New Words
What comes before a root word?
What comes after a root word?
What is a root word?