Unit
7
ante-, inter-, post-, pre-, retroName ______________________________________________________
Date _________________
Hidden Prefixes: Time
One or more prefixes are hiding in the clues. Look for the word parts that are the
same in the boldfaced examples. Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
1. This prefix means back. Retroactive means to go back and apply something to time
in the past and up to the present. If it is March, and your parents raise your allowance
retroactively to January, you will get more money for March and the added amount
for January and February, too. When you retrofit a machine, you go back and add or
change parts that were not there originally. A retrospective is a look backward at the
past, particularly at a person’s life work or career.
A prefix that means back is: ____ ____ ____ ____ ____– .
2. This prefix means after. To postpone an appointment is to do it after or later than
originally planned. A postscript at the bottom of a letter is a short message added
after the signature. A posthumous prize is awarded after the winner has died.
A prefix that means after is: ____ ____ ____ ____–.
3. This prefix means before. Your grandparents are your antecedents—they were born
before you. An antechamber is a small room before or leading to a larger room. To
antedate means to put an earlier date on something.
A prefix that means before is: ____ ____ ____ ____– .
4. This prefix also means before. Putting on a bike helmet before riding is a precaution,
a safety measure taken before an activity. A prejudicial opinion can be hurtful and
harmful, and comes before getting to know a new person, or learning the facts of a
legal case. Someone with prescience knows what will happen before it occurs.
Another prefix that means before is: ____ ____ ____– .
5. This prefix means between. If you try to stop two people from fighting by getting
between them, you intervene. An intermediary is someone who carries messages
between two parties or tries to solve a dispute for others. To interject means to say or
add something to a conversation in a way that interrupts the discussion.
A prefix that means between is: ____ ____ ____ ____ ____– .
List the prefixes in alphabetical order across the top row. Then, list the boldfaced
words containing that prefix in alphabetical order under that prefix. The first one
has been started for you.
anteantecedents
38
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
Unit 7
ante-, inter-, post-, pre-, retroName ______________________________________________________
Date _________________
Cloze Call
Write the missing prefix to complete the unfinished word in each sentence.
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
1. The ambassador acted as an ________mediary between the rebels and
the government.
2. The actors and singers waited in the ________chamber before they were called in to
the conference room to audition.
3. The reduced club dues were made ________active to last year because so many
longtime members complained about having paid the higher rates for so long.
4. The Nobel Peace Prize was given ________humously, six months after the winner
had died.
5. The jury was not permitted to read the newspaper or watch the news because it could
have been ________judicial to the case they were judging.
Use an answer from above in a sentence of your own.
Underline the word with the prefix in your sentence.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Draw a picture to illustrate your sentence.
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
39
Unit
7
ante-, inter-, post-, pre-, retroName ______________________________________________________
Date _________________
Prefix Crossword Puzzle
Read the clues. Use the prefixes in the box below to complete the puzzle.
Prefixes
ante-, inter-, pre-, post-, retro-
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
CLUES
1.
2.
ACROSS
1. The museum had this kind of an
exhibition, showcasing all of the
artist’s lifework to date.
3.
4.
4. Knowledge of what will happen
in the future
6. Her ________ came to America
on the Mayflower.
5.
6.
8. The meeting had to be ________
because half the group had
the flu.
9. A parent might do this when you
fight with your brother.
10. Modify or install new parts that
were not there originally
7.
8.
DOWN
2. To interrupt
3. Helmets and kneepads are these.
9.
5. To change the date to an
earlier one
7. Add this to a letter below
your signature.
On the back, choose two
or more puzzle answers
to use in a single sentence.
40
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
10.
Unit 7
ante-, inter-, post-, pre-, retroName ______________________________________________________
Date _________________
Word Cards
▶ Complete the word cards.
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
▶ Cut them out and tape or staple
them to index cards.
Prefix retro-
Means _______________
Words I know with retro-:
▶ On the back, illustrate one word
for each prefix. 1. retroactive means _______________
▶ Add the Prefix Picture Card from
your teacher to the front or back
of the card.
3. retrospective means _______________
Prefix post-
Prefix ante-
Means _______________
Means _______________
Words I know with post-:
Words I know with ante-:
1. postpone means _______________
1. antecedent means _______________
2. postscript means _______________
2. antechamber means _______________
3. posthumous means _______________
3. antedate means _______________
4. Other words I know with post-:
4. Other words I know with ante-:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Prefix pre-
Prefix inter-
Means _______________
Means _______________
Words I know with pre-:
Words I know with inter-:
1. precaution means _______________
1. intervene means _______________
2. prejudicial means _______________
2. interject means _______________
3. prescience means _______________
3. intermediary means _______________
4. Other words I know with pre-:
4. Other words I know with inter-:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
2. retrofit means _______________
4. Other words I know with retro-:
_____________________________________
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
41
Unit
8
-an, -ic, -ical, -ish, -ous
Name ______________________________________________________
Date _________________
Hidden Suffixes: Adjectives
One or more suffixes are hiding in the clues. Look for the word parts that are the
same in the boldfaced examples. Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
1. This adjective-forming suffix turns nouns and verbs into describing words. A metropolitan
area is a big city, or is near or part of a city. An authoritarian ruler is a rigid, demanding,
and very strict leader. A herculean task requires tremendous physical or mental strength
or courage, a job Hercules himself might find difficult.
An adjective suffix is: –____ ____.
2. This is also an adjective-forming suffix. A typical trait that describes a person or story
character is a characteristic trait. A movie is a cinematic version of a story. If that story
is about travel between galaxies, it’s an intergalactic story.
Another adjective suffix is: –____ ____.
3. This is another adjective-forming suffix. When you buy a large size bottle of vitamins,
it is usually cheaper and more economical than buying smaller bottles. If the label on
the vitamins promises to cure everything and bring world peace, those pills better have
mystical or supernatural magical powers. If you read that label with a critical eye, you
would be quizzical—both curious and surprised—that a vitamin could bring about
world peace.
This adjective suffix is: –____ ____ ____ ____.
4. This suffix also turns a noun into an adjective. An amateurish performance is a poor
one, done by an amateur, not a professional. If the performer acts like a bad sport, or
like a boor, when you don’t applaud wildly, his behavior is boorish. And if he gives a poor
performance, but acts like he just won an Academy Award, his behavior is outlandish—
extremely unusual, strange, and just plain bizarre!
An adjective suffix is: –____ ____ ____.
5. This is still another adjective-forming suffix. A smart, fair choice (one that a judge might
make) is a judicious choice. But a foolish, idiotic choice is a fatuous one. Whatever the
decision, if you’ve made it independently, all by yourself, you’ve made an autonomous
choice.
Another adjective-forming suffix is: –____ ____ ____.
List the suffixes in alphabetical order across the top row. Then, list the boldfaced
words containing that suffix in alphabetical order under that suffix. The first one has
been started for you.
-an
authoritarian
42
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
Unit 8
-an, -ic, -ical, -ish, -ous
Name ______________________________________________________
Date _________________
Cloze Call
Write the missing suffix to complete the unfinished word in each sentence.
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
1. Advances in solar-powered space travel have made intergalact________ exploration
beyond our solar system possible.
2. They chose to stay at the least expensive, most economic________ hotel near the
water park.
3. The student council wishes it were an autonom________ group, able to make decisions
without the approval of a teacher advisor or the principal.
4. The production was so amateur________, the performers sounded as though they had
never had a singing lesson.
5. Although the commander was an authoritari________ leader when in uniform, he was
a relaxed, team player when not on duty.
Use an answer from above in a sentence of your own.
Underline the word with the suffix in your sentence.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Draw a picture to illustrate your sentence.
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
43
Unit
8
-an, -ic, -ical, -ish, -ous
Name ______________________________________________________
Date _________________
Suffix Crossword Puzzle
Read the clues. Use the suffixes in the box below to complete the puzzle.
Suffixes
-an, -ic, -ical, -ish, -ous
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
On the back,
choose two
or more
puzzle
answers
to use in
a single
sentence.
7.
8.
9.
10.
CLUES
ACROSS
DOWN
2. A ________ effort was needed to clean
up after the hurricane.
1. Typical of someone
4. Shockingly bizarre behavior
5. Powers a wizard might have
7. A silly and foolish decision is this.
8. Like a movie
9. They lived in the Boston ________ area.
10. Surprisingly curious
44
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
3. Behaving in a rude, obnoxious manner
6. A carefully considered, fair decision or
choice is this.
Unit 8
-an, -ic, -ical, -ish, -ous
Name ______________________________________________________
Date _________________
Word Cards
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Suffix -an
▶ Complete the word cards.
Means _______________
▶ Cut them out and tape or staple
them to index cards.
Words I know with -an:
▶ On the back, illustrate one word
for each suffix. 2. herculean means _______________
▶ Draw a picture of one or more words
on the back of the card.
1. authoritarian means _______________
3. metropolitan means _______________
4. Other words I know with -an:
_____________________________________
Suffix -ic
Suffix -ish
Means _______________
Means _______________
Words I know with -ic:
Words I know with -ish:
1. characteristic means _______________
1. amateurish means _______________
2. cinematic means _______________
2. boorish means _______________
3. intergalactic means _______________
3. outlandish means _______________
4. Other words I know with -ic:
4. Other words I know with -ish:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Suffix -ical
Suffix -ous
Means _______________
Means _______________
Words I know with -ical:
Words I know with -ous:
1. economical means _______________
1. autonomous means _______________
2. quizzical means _______________
2. fatuous means _______________
3. mystical means _______________
3. judicious means _______________
4. Other words I know with -ical:
4. Other words I know with -ous:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
45
Units 7&8
REVIEW GAME 4
Review Game 4: Cloze
Concentration
Skill Use words with affixes to complete sentences.
Number of Players Pairs
Object of the Game Match words to cloze sentences.
Make the Game Cards
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
1. Duplicate four pages of blank game cards (page 56) for each pair of players.
2. Give each player two pages of blank game cards. Have students select a total of nine
words from Units 7 and 8 and write them on the left side. Then have them write a cloze
sentence for each word on the right. Where the target word would appear in the sentence,
have students draw a box, as shown below:
postpone
We had to
the game because of rain.
Each student should also have one set of blank word cards. Have them write “Wild Card” on
these cards.
3. Before cutting apart the cards, students should review each other’s words and sentences
to be sure they are correct. Have students cut apart the cards. For durability, tape game
cards to index cards.
4. Each pair of students should have a total of 40 game cards: 18 sets of word and cloze
sentence cards, plus four Wild Cards. Place each pair’s game cards in an envelope. Have
students write their initials in the top right corner of the envelope. Collect the envelopes.
Play the Game
1. Randomly distribute the envelopes, making sure that no pair gets its own set of
game cards.
2. Players mix up the cards and place them facedown in a 5 x 8 array.
3. Play Concentration. The first player turns over two cards. If the cards show a word and a
cloze sentence that the word completes, the player then identifies the prefix or suffix and
its meaning. If correct, the player keeps the cards. If the player turns over a Wild Card, he
or she writes a word with an affix or composes a sentence to make a pair. If the player
does this correctly, the player keeps the cards. Then the next player takes a turn.
4. If the cards don’t match, or the player incorrectly defines the affix and/or its meaning, the
cards are turned facedown for the second player’s turn.
5. The player with the most cards at the end wins.
46
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
Game Cards
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
See directions for review games on pages 19, 28, 37, 46, and 55.
56
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
Unit
7
ante-, inter-, post-, pre-, retroUnit 7 prefix Picture Cards
12
MARCH
APRIL
retroVocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
12
postMARCH
APRIL
retro12
postMARCH
APRIL
retro12
postMARCH
APRIL
retro12
postMARCH
APRIL
retro-
60
post-
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
MARCH
APRIL
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
inter-
pre-
anteMARCH
APRIL
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
inter-
pre-
anteMARCH
APRIL
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
inter-
pre-
anteMARCH
APRIL
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
inter-
pre-
anteMARCH
APRIL
ante-
MARCH
APRIL
pre-
MAY
inter-
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Master List
UNIT
AFFIX
MEANING
EXEMPLARS
7‣
ante-
before
antecedent, antechamber, antedate
inter-
between
interject, intermediary, intervene
post-
after
posthumous, postpone, postscript
pre-
before
precaution, prejudicial, prescience
retro-
back
retroactive, retrofit, retrospective
-an
(adjective)
authoritarian, herculean, metropolitan
-ic
(adjective)
characteristic, cinematic, intergalactic
-ical
(adjective)
economical, mystical, quizzical
-ish
(adjective)
amateurish, boorish, outlandish
-ous
(adjective)
autonomous, fatuous, judicious
8‣
10
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes & Suffixes © Liane B. Onish, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Answer Key
Unit 7
Unit 8
PAGE 38
1. retro-, 2. post-, 3. ante-, 4. pre-, 5. inter-
PAGE 42
1. -an, 2. -ic, 3. -ical, 4. -ish, 5. -ous
ante-
inter-
post-
pre-
retro-
-an
-ic
-ical
-ish
-ous
antecedents
interject
posthumous
precaution
retroactive
authoritarian
characteristic
economical
amateurish
autonomous
antechamber
intermediary
postpone
prejudicial
retrofit
herculean
cinematic
mystical
boorish
fatuous
antedate
intervene
postscript
prescience
retrospective
metropolitan
intergalactic
quizzical
outlandish
judicious
PAGE 39
1. intermediary, 2. antechamber,
3. retroactive, 4. posthumously, 5. prejudicial
PAGE43
1. intergalactic, 2.economical, 3. autonomous,
4. amateurish, 5. authoritarian
PAGE 40
Across: 1. retrospective, 4. prescience,
6. antecedents, 8. postponed, 9. intervene,
10. retrofit,
Down: 2. interject, 3. precautions,
5. antedate, 7. postscript
PAGE44
Across: 2. herculean, 4. outlandish,
7. fatuous, 8. cinematic, 9. metropolitan,
10. quizzical
Down: 1. characteristic, 3. boorish,
5. mystical, 6. judicious
Vocabulary Packets: Prefixes and Suffixes • Scholastic
63