Word Structures And Word Parts

WORD STRUCTURES/ WORD PARTS AS CLUES TO WORD MEANINGS

Davidson, C.L. (2006). Solving the mystery of reading. USA: Pearson Education, Inc.

ROOTS

PREFIXES

SUFFIXES

Definition: Where the word takes its basic meaning; Core around which the word is built

Definition: AFFIXES that are attached to the BEGINNING of a root; Letters that are added BEFORE the root word

Definition: AFFIXES that are attached to the END of a root; Letters that are added AFTER the root word

(AFFIXES are word parts that are attached to a root). Example: code

Example: decoder Example: decoder ( the -er at the end (de- means “to remove means a person) something”)

Thus, in the sentence, “Even the best decoder could not decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs before the Rosetta stone was found.” what does a decoder mean? ______________ _____________________________________ _

You are right!!! A decoder is “a person (-er) who removes (de-) (or breaks) (code)s.”

Exercise 1. Write down the root in the each of the words below.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

reality collection inactive buyer illegal childhood posttest employer

9. attendant 10. confession 11. recycle 12. touchable 13. sadly 14. impossible 15. preview 16. crusty

Common Roots – Set 1 Root

Meaning

Sample Word

aud

hear, listen

auditorium, audio-visual

dict

speak, words

dictation, dictionary

gen

create

generator, Genesis

meter

to measure

thermometer, metric

mit, miss

send

missile, transmit

nom, non, nym

name

synonym, anonymous

phon

sound

homophone, telephone

port

carry

import, transport

script, scribe

to write

prescription, transcribe

vid, vis

see

video, vision

Exercise 2. The root in each word in the left column (1-10) is underlined, as well as the definition in the right column. Use this information to match the word with its definition. Write letters only.

• • • • • • • • • •

antonym dictator auditory export visor inscription Genesis barometer phonics missionary

• • • • • • • • • •

a person sent to another place to teach religion something written on paper, leather, or stone the book of Creation in the Bible a word that has the opposite meaning (name) the sounds of a language a protective covering for the eyes having to do with the ears or hearing a ruler whose “words” (speech) are law an instrument to measure air pressure to carry products out of the country

Common Roots – Set 2 Root

Meaning

Sample Word

auto

self

automatic, automobile

capt, capit

head

captain, decapitate

cide

to kill

pesticide, homicide

crat, cracy

to rule

bureaucrat, democracy

graph

to write, draw

telegraph, phonograph

log, ology

study of

geology, psychology

matri

mother

matriarch, maternal

patri

father

patriarch, paternal

phobia

fear

tract

to pull

claustrophobia, arachnophobia traction, tractor, attract

Common Roots – Set 3 Root

Meaning

Sample Word

bio

life

biology, antibiotic

chron

time

chronology, chronicle

micro

very small

microscope, microbe

ped, pod

foot

pedal, tripod

photo

light

scope

to look at

photograph, photosynthesis telescope, microscope

tele

distance

television, telephone

terri/a

land, earth

territory, terrier

therm

heat

thermometer, thermos

trans

across

transport, transcontinental

Exercise 3. (Write the letter of the word that would correctly complete each of the sentences on the right.)

a. b. c. d. e. f.

people to pull sounds to carry eyes sent

• • • • • •

If you have a portable radio, you are able __________ it with you wherever you go. Egyptian priests wrote in hieroglyphs. The common __________ wrote in a form called demotic. You might lose your vision if your __________ are injured. The farmer used the tractor __________ the plow. The spy had been __________ on a secret mission. Hieroglyphs are based on pictures and phonics, which are the __________ of language.

Assignment No. 2 – Due Next Meeting 1. Form groups with five members each. 2. Choose five roots from Sets 2 and 3 of the Common Roots lists (from the handouts). 3. Write five questions (with their corresponding answers) for each of the root you’ve chosen asking for the definition of five Sample Words that are not yet included in the two Sets. (e.g., “What _____ology is the study of animals.” Answer: Zoology is the study of animals) (But try to think of more difficult words!!!) 4. Then, write a new sentence using the same word. (e.g. I don’t like my zoology subject because I am allergic to animals.) 5. Type your answers on short bond paper, with the nicknames and last names of all group members.

Answers to Exercise 1. (Write down the root in the each of the words below.)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

real collect active buy legal child test employ

9. attend 10. confess 11. cycle 12. touch 13. sad 14. possible 15. view 16. crust

Answers to Exercise 2. (The root in each word in the left column (1-10) is underlined, as well as the definition in the right column. Use this information to match the word with its definition. Write letters only.)

• • • • • • • • • •

D - antonym H - dictator G - auditory J - export F - visor Binscription C - Genesis Ibarometer E - phonics A -missionary

• • • • • • • • • •

a person sent to another place to teach religion something written on paper, leather, or stone the book of Creation in the Bible a word that has the opposite meaning (name) the sounds of a language a protective covering for the eyes having to do with the ears or hearing a ruler whose “words” (speech) are law an instrument to measure air pressure to carry products out of the country

Answers to Exercise 3. Write the letter of the word that would correctly complete each of the sentences on the right. a. b. c. d. e. f.

people to pull sounds to carry eyes sent

• •

• • • •

D - If you have a portable radio, you are able __________ it with you wherever you go. A - Egyptian priests wrote in hieroglyphs. The common __________ wrote in a form called demotic. E -You might lose your vision if your __________ are injured. B - The farmer used the tractor __________ the plow. F - The spy had been __________ on a secret mission. C - Hieroglyphs are based on pictures and phonics, which are the __________ of language.