Word Structure

1
Word Structure
2
Structure of a Word

• Prefix----root----suffix
• In---comprehens----ible
• Prefix----root
• Un----common
• Root----suffix
• Happi----ness

3
Prefixes

• May be added to the beginning of a root word
• Adds meaning to the root word
• UnhappyNOT happy

4
Negative Prefixes

• All negative prefixes mean NO or NOT, or
  reverse the meaning of the root word.

5
Negative Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Example
un not unhappy
dis not disappear
in not indefinite
Im (m,o,p) not immortal
Ir (r) not irresponsible
Il (l) not illegal
non not Non-toxic
mis not misspell




6
Number Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Example
Hemi 1/2 hemisphere
semi 1/2 Semi-circle
mono 1 monologue
uni 1 unison
Meth (science) 1 methane



7
Number Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Example
di 2 diploid
du 2 duplex
bi 2 bicycle
Eth (science) 2 ethane
Pro (science) 3 propane
tri 3 triangle
8
Number Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Example
tetra 4 tetragon
quar 4 Quart, quarter
quad 4 quadrilateral
But (science) 4 butane
pent 5 pentane
9
Number Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Example
hex 6 hexagon
sept 7 septennial
hept 7 heptathlon
oct 8 octave
nov 9 November
Non (science) 9 Nonagon
10
Number Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Example
dec 10 decade
cent 100 century
mill 1000 millennium
kilo 1000 kilogram
poly many polytheism
multi many multipurpose
11
Time and Place Prefixes 1
Prefix Meaning Example
post after Post-prom
trans across transcontinental
dia across diagonal
sub under submarine
anti against Anti-war
contra against contradict
pre before Pre-game
circum around circumference





12
Time and Place 1
Prefix Meaning Example
inter between interstate
intra within intramurals
in into inspect
e out emit
ex out exit
13
Time and Place 2
Prefix Meaning Example
ad toward advance
at toward attach
ag toward aggressive
14
Time and Place 2
Prefix Meaning Example
ab away Abstain, absent
dis Away, off dismount
De Se Away, off Depart, detour Separate
15
Time and Place 2
Prefix Meaning Example
para Beside, similar paraphrase
retro back retroactive
re Back again Return redo
co together cooperate
Com con together Company connect
16
Time and Place 2
Prefix Meaning Example
Sym, syn together symphony
Sym, syn same Synonym, symmetry
17
Intensifying Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Example
super Above, beyond supervisor
hyper Above, beyond hyperactive
ultra Above, beyond Ultra light
hypo Below normal hypothermia
homo same homogenous
hetero different heterogeneous
bene good benefit
mal bad malnutrition
18
Questions to Ponder

• How old is a superannuated person?
• What does homogenized milk look like?
• How does an malcontent act?
• If your name is Sam, and your friends name is
  homonymous, what is his name?
• Describe a shirt that is heterochromatic.
• What is hypothermia?

19
Prefixes with More Than One Meaning (Summary)
Prefix Meaning Example
in Into not Inhale incorrect
dis Not Off, away Disagree dismount
Sym, syn Together same Symphony synonym
pro Three (science) Forward Before in time/position Propane Procedure Pro-golfer