Context Clues, Roots, and Affixes

Context Clues, Roots, and Affixes

Open Ended

What are context clues?

Context Clues

• When you use other words in the text (its context) to help you determine the meaning of an unknown word

Types of Context Clues (IDEAS)

• I: Inference

• D: Definition

• E: Example

• A: Antonym

• S: Synonym

Inference

• When you can use what the sentence says to make a guess about what the word means

• Example: He was a formidable tennis player, and many of his opponents didn't stand a chance against him.

• If his opponents didn't stand a chance, that means he must be pretty good, so you can infer what formidable means.

Definition

• When the definition of the word is given in the sentence

• Example: He was a formidable tennis player, and his power and strength earned him the attention and respect of his coaches.

• This helps you to define the word.

Example

• When there is an example given that can help you determine the meaning of the word

• Example: As a formidable tennis player, he easily beat every opponent with his superb skill and strength.

Antonym

• When the opposite of the word is given in the sentence/surrounding sentences, allowing you to determine the meaning of the word.

• Example: I am a weak, poor tennis player. I hope with enough practice I can become a formidable opponent on the court.

Synonym

• When a synonym of the word is given in the sentence/surrounding sentences

• He was a formidable tennis player, and his fierce and imposing ways often intimidated his opponents.

Open Ended

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the underlined word.

I relished each delicious and heavenly morsel of the chocolate cake as if it were the last desert on earth.

Open Ended

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the underlined word.

Many new employees flounder as they clumsily and helplessly learn this complex computer program.

Open Ended

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the underlined word.

The climate in Hawaii is always so sultry that you are constantly dripping sweat and your clothes are never dry.

Open Ended

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the underlined word.

I thought I hired a competant painter, but after seeing his work I realized he was unskilled and inept.

Open Ended

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the underlined word.

I hope my comment didn't diminish your accomplishments. I never meant to minimize or destract from your hard work.

Root

• The main basis of a new word

Common Roots

• Ambi= both

• Aqua= water

• Aud= to hear

• bene= good

• dict= to say

• fract= to break

• srib/scribe= to write

Affixes

• Parts of the word added before (prefix) or after (suffix) the root

Common Prefixes

• Pre= before, in front of (prefix, pretax, prequel)

• in/non/un/im= not (inadequate, nonfat, undo, impossible).

• dis= lack of, apart, not (disappear, disconnect)

• mis= wrong (misstep, miscommunicate)

Common Suffixes

• able/ible= able to (understandable, visible)

• ful= full of (graceful, beautiful)

• less= without (meaningless, pointless)

• ment= action/resulting state (resentment, retirement)

• ly= in a specified manner (quickly, carefully)

Using Roots and Affixes

• Take a word such as unsuccessfully

• break it down into roots and affixes

• un-success-ful-ly

• we know that un- means not, -ful means ful, and -ly means in a certain way, so we can figure out that this means not in a way that is full of success.

Using Roots and Affixes

• inaudible

• break it down into roots and affixes

• in-aud-ible

• not-to hear-able

• not able to be heard

Using Roots and Affixes

• ambidextrous

• break it down into roots and affixes

• ambi-dext-(r)ous

• both-right hand-full of

• ability to use both hands skillfully