Why+study+PREFIXES,+SUFFIXES+and+ROOT+WORDS?

A ** prefix ** is a word part with a specific meaning at the beginning of a word. A ** suffix ** is a word part with a specific meaning at the end of a word. A ** root word ** is the main part of a word that contains its core meaning. Sometimes it is a word on its own, as in // unbelievable // ( // believe // is the root word), and sometimes it cannot stand alone, as in // relocation // ( // loc // is the root word). In either case, prefixes and suffixes can be added to root words, which might change either the meaning of the word (// reactivate //, // deactivate // ) or its grammatical function ( // transports // = present tense, transported = past tense, // transportation // = noun). Sometimes spelling changes when suffixes are added to root words (// noise, //// noisy // ).

Learning ** root words, **** prefixes, ** and ** suffixes ** can help you because: • If you recognize these word parts, it is easier to figure out what a word you don’t know means. • They can help you to spell words because you’ll remember patterns. // (Retrieved from original source ////[] on September 29, 2010)//