Prefixes and Suffixes
Grade 3 · English · Study Guide
Learn how adding letters to the beginning or end of a word changes its meaning.
Have you ever noticed that some words seem to share a special part? Words like 'unhappy,' 'undo,' and 'unclear' all start with 'un-'. That little chunk at the front is called a prefix, and it changes the meaning of every word it touches. The prefix 'un-' means 'not' or 'the opposite of,' so 'unhappy' means 'not happy.' Learning prefixes is like unlocking a secret code — once you know what a prefix means, you can figure out dozens of new words!
A suffix is a group of letters added to the END of a word. For example, adding '-ful' to 'hope' gives you 'hopeful,' meaning full of hope. Adding '-less' gives you 'hopeless,' meaning without hope. The base word stays the same; the suffix just steers the meaning in a new direction.
Some prefixes and suffixes are used all the time in 3rd grade reading. 'Pre-' means before (preview, preschool). 'Re-' means again (rewrite, redo). '-er' and '-est' are used to compare things (faster, fastest). '-ing' and '-ed' change when an action happens. When you spot these in a book, you can figure out unfamiliar words without even using a dictionary!
Here is a great strategy: break the word apart. Find the base word first, then look at what was added to the front or back. Put the meanings together and you have the definition. This word-detective skill will help you your entire life — in every subject, not just English.
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| un- | not / opposite | unhappy, undo |
| re- | again | rewrite, redo |
| pre- | before | preview, preschool |
| mis- | wrongly | mistake, misspell |
| dis- | not / away | dislike, disagree |
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ful | full of | hopeful, careful |
| -less | without | hopeless, careless |
| -er | more / one who | faster, teacher |
| -ness | state of being | kindness, sadness |
| -ly | in a way | quickly, slowly |
Key terms
- prefix
- A group of letters added to the beginning of a word that changes its meaning (ex: un-, re-, pre-)
- suffix
- A group of letters added to the end of a word that changes its meaning (ex: -ful, -less, -er)
- base word
- The main word before any prefix or suffix is added
- root word
- The core part of a word that holds the main meaning
Flashcards
- un-
- Prefix meaning 'not' or 'opposite of' (example: unhappy)
- re-
- Prefix meaning 'again' (example: rewrite)
- pre-
- Prefix meaning 'before' (example: preview)
- mis-
- Prefix meaning 'wrongly' (example: mistake)
- dis-
- Prefix meaning 'not' or 'away' (example: dislike)
- -ful
- Suffix meaning 'full of' (example: hopeful)
- -less
- Suffix meaning 'without' (example: hopeless)
Practice questions
What does the prefix 're-' mean?
- not
- again
- before
- without
Show answer
Answer: again
'Re-' means to do something again. Rewrite = write again; redo = do again.
A prefix is added to the END of a word.
Show answer
Answer: False
A prefix is added to the BEGINNING of a word. A suffix goes at the end.
The word 'hopeless' uses the suffix '-less', which means ___.
Show answer
Answer: without
'-less' means without, so 'hopeless' means without hope.
Which word uses the prefix 'pre-'?
- reread
- unkind
- preview
- careful
Show answer
Answer: preview
'Pre-' means before. Preview means to look before the main showing.
The base word is the main word before any prefix or suffix is added.
Show answer
Answer: True
The base word holds the main meaning. Prefixes and suffixes are added on to change it.
Fun facts
- The prefix 'un-' is one of the most common in the English language — there are over 1,000 words that start with it!
- The suffix '-tion' (as in 'action' or 'nation') comes from Latin and appears in thousands of English words.
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