Find Root Words When A Prefix Has Been Added

Look at the word below:

 

Slowly

 

Here, the suffix -ly has been added to the word slow.

 

A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word.

 

Slow is an example of a root word.

 

 

Look at the word below:

 

Reheat

 

Here, the prefix re- has been added to the word heat.

 

A prefix is a group of letters added to the start of a word.

 

Heat is another example of a root word.

 

 

Root Words

A root word is a word where neither a suffix nor a prefix have been added.

 

These words are all root words:

 

Take

Place

Play

 

We could add the prefix mis- to take and place to make mistake and misplace.

 

We could add the prefix re- to play to make replay.

 

These words have all had prefixes added:

 

Reappear

Disorder

Misheard

 

Can you spot the root words?

 

 

The root words were:

 

Appear

Order

Heard

 

In this activity, you’ll be on the hunt for root words. Make sure you look out for any prefixes and remove them to get the root word.