Prefixes Help Find the Meaning of Words

Word Parts Determine the Meaning of Words

Knowledge Leads to Understanding

​Prefixes

Definition: Word parts that are added to ​the beginning of words and change the meaning of the overall word.

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​For Example: e-, ex- means "out"

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export (out/carry) to carry out

​emit (out/send) to send out

​There are a lot of different prefixes, but many have the same meaning!

Multiple Choice

All of the words below have different prefixes, but they all have the same meaning.  Can you tell what it is?

irresponsible

unhappy

incompetent

impossible

disagreeable

illegible 

anticlimactic 

• before

• not

• after

• among

Multiple Choice

If the prefix il- means "not" and the root word is liquid, what is most likely the meaning of illiquidity?

• not round

• not liquid

• not combined

​All of these words have prefixes that mean "not". Read through the list to see if you recognize any other word parts that will help you determine their meaning.

• ​illogical

• ​discover

• ​​irreplaceable

• ​immobile

• ​imperceptible

• ​unquenchable

• ​unapproachable

• unfashionable

• ​anticlimactic

• ​inexpensive

Multiple Choice

If the prefix il means not, and the root logic means "with reason", what does the word illogical most likely mean?

• something that doesn't make sense

• lack of focus

• something that is not combined

Multiple Choice

If the prefix dis-  means not, and the root cover means "to conceal or hide", what does the word discover most likely mean?

• to put ahead of the rest

• to hide

• to find or become aware of

Multiple Choice

If the prefix ir-  means not, and the root replace means "to get another ", what does the word irreplaceable most likely mean?

• not together

• not able to get another

• not able to be seen

Multiple Choice

If the prefix im-  means not, and the root mobile means "to move ", what does the word immobile most likely mean?

• not able to move

• not able to see

• not able to read

Multiple Choice

If the prefix im-  means not, and the root perceive means "to become aware of ", what does the word imperceptible most likely mean?

• not justifiable

• not heard

• not noticeable 

Multiple Choice

If the prefix un-  means not, and the root quench means "to satisfy ", what does the word unquenchable most likely mean?

• not able to be satisfied

• not able to be seen

• not able to be forgiven

Multiple Choice

If the prefix un-  means not, and the root approach means "to come near to someone/something", what does unapproachable most likely mean?

• not able to walk across

• not able to use

• not able to get close to

Multiple Choice

If the prefix anti-  means not, and the root climax means "the most exciting part of a story", what does anticlimactic most likely mean?

• hard to see

• not exciting

• overly exciting

Multiple Choice

If the prefix un-  means not, and the root fashion means "things that are stylish", what does unfashionable most likely mean?

• the latest way to communicate

• the popular, stylish trend

• not the popular, stylish trend

Multiple Choice

If the prefix in-  means not, and the root expense means "the cost of something", what does inexpensive most likely mean?

• not a lot of money

• a lot of money

• something valuable

​If the prefixes​

​ir-, un-, in-, im-, dis-, il-, and anti-

​all have the same meaning, how do you know when to use the right prefix?

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​The video below will explain the when and why!

Open Ended

Write a story that makes sense using as many of the words listed below!

inexpensive, unfashionable, anticlimactic, unapproachable, unquenchable, imperceptible, immobile, irreplaceable, discover, illogical