“TAP” Lesson
Lesson 4.06 Ask the Ancients
Objectives (Learning Goals)
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
-Understand how Greek and Latin affixes contribute to the meaning of a word.
Academic Vocabulary
*Use the paragraph and activities below to help you define and understand these words:
- Root
○ Definition:
○ Examples:
- Affix
○ Definition:
○ Examples:
- Prefix
○ Definition:
○ Examples:
- Suffix
○ Definition:
○ Examples:
In this lesson we learn how to figure out meanings of words by looking at the different parts of words.
We learn that modern English is heavily influenced by the ancient Greek and Latin languages. If we don’t
know the meaning of a word, we can often take the word apart by looking at the ROOT (the base or
original form of the word) and AFFIXES (sets of letters added to the beginning or end of a word) if the word
has any. AFFIXES that are added to the beginning of a word are called PREFIXES. AFFIXES that are added
to the end of a word are called SUFFIXES. Often, if we can separate out the prefix and the suffix, we are
left with the root word or close enough that we can recognize and understand what the word means. In
the charts below, you will see a list of the 20 most common ROOT WORDS, PREFIXES, and SUFFIXES.
This chart should help you on your 4.06 quiz!
Let’s practice!
*Use the chart below to figure out the meanings of the MADE UP words below:
Original Word
(Sample)
Prefix
de
Suffix
ROOT
duc
Possible WORD MEANING
ity
In the state of being without a leader???
Deducity
Unapathetically
Semiastroless
Common Root Words
Root Word
-aster-, -astro-
Origin Meaning
Greek star
-aud-, -audi-
Latin
hear
-auto-
Greek
self
-bene-
Latin
good
-bio-
Greek
life
-ced-
Latin
go or yield
-chrono-
Greek
time
-dic-, -dict-
Latin
say
-duc-
Latin
lead, make
-gen-
Latin
give birth
-geo-
Greek
earth
-graph-
Greek
write
-jud-, -jur-, -jus-, -juris-
Latin
law, of law
-log-, -logue-
Latin
thought
-luc-, -lum-
Latin
light
-man-, -manu-
Latin
hand
-mand-, -mend-
Latin
order
-mis-, -mit-
Latin
send
-omni-
Latin
all
Examples
asterisk, asteroid, astronomy, astronomical
applaud, auditory, audible, audience
automobile, automatic, autocracy
benefit, beneficial, benevolence
biology, biography
concede, precedent, recede, secede
chronological, chronology, asynchronous
indicate, dictator, diction
educate, introduction, produce
gene, gender, general
geography, geothermal, geocentric
graph, graphite, calligraphy
judge, judicial, jury, juror, justice, jurisprudence
analogy, logical, dialogue, epilogue
lucid, illuminate, luminous
manifest, manual, manufacture
demand, mandatory, commend, recommend
admission, missile, commit
omniscient, omnivorous
-path-
Greek
feel
-phil-
Greek
love
-phon-
Greek
sound
-photo-
Greek
light
-port-
Latin
carry
-qui-, -quit-
Latin
quiet, rest
-scrib-, -script-
Latin
write
-sens-, -sent-
Latin
feel
-tele-
Greek
far off
-terr-
Latin
earth
-vac-
Latin
empty
-vert-, -vers-
Latin
turn
-vid-, -vis-
Latin
see
apathetic, pathogen, sympathy
bibliophile, philanthropist, philosopher
phonics, saxophone, telephone
photography, photon, photobiotic
deport, export, portable
acquit, quiet, tranquil
describe, scribble, manuscript, prescription
nonsense, sensitive, dissent, sentimental
television, telescope, telephone
terrain, territory, subterranean
vacant, vacuum, evacuate
convert, divert, inverse, diverse
video, videocamera, revise, vision
20 Most Common Prefixes
Meaning
Examples
Prefix
anti-
against
antibody, antisocial
de-
apart from
detach, descend, despair
dis-
removal, away from
disappear, disadvantage
em-, en-
in, cause to
embarrass, embitter, enrage, ensnare
fore-
in front
forefather, foretell, foresee, foreshadow
in-, im-
in, into
inside, implicit
in-, im-, ir-, ill-
not, opposite of
inattentive, impossible, irresponsible, illiterate
inter-
between
Internet, international, interstate
mid-
middle
midsection, midnight, midpoint
mis-
wrongly
misconception, misunderstanding, misuse
non-
not, opposite of
non-fiction, nonprofit, nonsense, nonverbal
over-
too much, above
overachiever, overboard, overreact
pre-
before
prepare, preface, predate
re-
again, back
remix, resale, recollect
semi-
half
semicircle, semiconductor, semisweet
sub-
under
suburban, subversive, subcommittee, submit
super-
above, beyond
supernatural, superimpose, superstar
trans-
across
transport, transfer, transcendental
un-
not, opposite of
unbiased, unbelievable, unfamiliar
under-
too little, below
underachiever, underling, undercook
20 Most Common Suffixes
Meaning
Examples
Suffix
-al, -ial
related to
bicameral, diabolical, genial, evidential
-ed
past tense verbs
suppressed, revised, congratulated
-en
made of
oaken, ashen, maiden
-er
comparative
shorter, better, wiser
-er, -or
someone who
lawyer, teacher, doctor, proctor
-est
comparative
brightest, sweetest, grumpiest
-ful
full of
mindful, sorrowful, bountiful
-ible, -able
possible to
legible, reprehensible, arable, debatable
-ic
having characteristics of
terrific, beatific, moralistic
-ing
verb form, present participle, “doing”
reading, writing, skydiving
-ion, -tion, -ation, ition
state of action or being, verb becomes a noun
aversion, connection, confrontation,
intuition
-ity, -ty
state of
infinity, serenity, anxiety, crafty
-ive, -ative, -itive
adjective form of a noun (descriptive word)
conclusive, cumulative, positive
-ly
characteristic of, when, where, under what
conditions
frighteningly, slowly
-ment
action or process
amendment, predicament
-ness
state, quality, condition, degree
fullness, shyness, wickedness
-less
without
hopeless, pointless
-ous, -cous, -ious
full of
ominous, mucous, impervious
-s, -es
plurals
apples, highways, bunches, crosses
-y
consisting of or inclined toward
filthy, sleepy, tasty
Good Luck on your 4.06 Quiz!
Click HERE to view the ANSWERS to the activities on this page