Identify base words, prefixes, and suffixes

Key Notes:

What are Base Words?

A base word is the simplest form of a word. It’s the main part of the word to which prefixes and suffixes can be added. Think of it as the foundation of a word!

Examples:

  • play in playing, played, replay
  • help in helpful, helped, unhelpful
  • care in careful, careless, uncaring
What are Prefixes?

A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a base word. It changes the meaning of the base word.

Common Prefixes:

  • un- (not): unhappy, undo
  • re- (again): replay, redo
  • pre- (before): preheat, preview
  • dis- (not, opposite): disagree, dislike
What are Suffixes?

A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a base word. It can change the meaning or the part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) of the base word.

Common Suffixes:

  • -ing (verb, present participle): playing, walking
  • -ed (verb, past tense): played, walked
  • -ful (adjective, full of): helpful, careful
  • -less (adjective, without): careless, fearless
  • -ly (adverb): quickly, slowly
Practice Time!

For each word, identify the base word, prefix (if any), and suffix (if any).

  1. unhappy
  2. replay
  3. careless
  4. preheat
  5. walking
  6. disagree
  7. helpful
  8. quickly
  9. undo
  10. dislike

Answer Key:

  1. un- (prefix), happy (base word)
  2. re- (prefix), play (base word)
  3. care (base word), -less (suffix)
  4. pre- (prefix), heat (base word)
  5. walk (base word), -ing (suffix)
  6. dis- (prefix), agree (base word)
  7. help (base word), -ful (suffix)
  8. quick (base word), -ly (suffix)
  9. un- (prefix), do (base word)
  10. dis- (prefix), like (base word)
More Exercises

Create your own words by adding prefixes and suffixes to the following base words:

  • act
  • kind
  • use
  • cover
  • read

Example:

  • act: react, acting, action
List of Identify base words, prefixes, and suffixes

Let’s practice!

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