English 6

English – Grade 6
Quarter 2 – Module 12-B: Inferring the Meaning of Idiomatic Expressions Using
Root Words
First Edition, 2020

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 English 6
Quarter 2
Self-Learning Module 12-B
Inferring the Meaning of Idiomatic
Expressions Using Root Words
Introductory Message

For the Facilitator:

Welcome to the English 6 Self-Learning Module on Inferring the Meaning of

Idiomatic Expressions Using Root Words.

This Self-Learning Module was collaboratively designed, developed, and

reviewed by educators from the Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its
Officer-in-Charge Schools Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A.
Agustin, in partnership with the City Government of Pasig through its mayor,
Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto. The writers utilized the standards set by the K
to 12 Curriculum using the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) in
developing this instructional resource.

This learning material hopes to engage the learners in guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims to help learners
acquire the needed 21st-century skills especially the 5 Cs, namely: Communication,
Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character while taking into
consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
For the learner:

Welcome to the English 6 Self-Learning Module on Inferring the Meaning of

Idiomatic Expressions Using Root Words.

The hand is one of the most symbolized parts of the human body. It is often
used to depict skill, action, and purpose. Through our hands, we may learn, create,
and accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a
learner is capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant competencies
and skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You
will be enabled to process the contents of the learning material while being an active
learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

Expectations - This points to the set of knowledge and skills

that you will learn after completing the module.

Pretest - This measures your prior knowledge about the lesson

at hand.

Recap - This part of the module provides a review of concepts

and skills that you already know about a previous lesson.

Lesson - This section discusses the topic in the module.

Activities - This is a set of activities that you need to perform.

Wrap-Up - This section summarizes the concepts and

application of the lesson.

Valuing - This part integrates a desirable moral value in the

lesson.

Posttest - This measures how much you have learned from the
entire module.
 EXPECTATIONS

This is your self-instructional learner module 6. All the activities

provided in this lesson will help you learn and understand on how to infer
meaning of idiomatic expressions using root words.

PRETEST

Directions: Match the idiom used in a sentence with its meaning. Write the
letter of the answer on the space before the number.

1. He was hired as a bank teller a month ago. A. Complete meal

He’s still a complete novice to his work. He
was a greenhorn!
2. Jack’s manager turned down his new B. Care for
project proposal because it’s quite simple
and it was being rejected after all.
3. It’s the first day of school and there is a new C. New
kid on the block who seems a shame to
everyone. He is a new comer.
4. The babysitter keeps an eye on she babysits D. Refuse, Denied
for. She carefully takes care and look after
the child.
5. I need three square meal a day at least to E. Inexperience
be malnourish free.
 RECAP

We have learned that we can infer meaning of idiomatic expressions by

using words with affixes in sentences. It gives clue to every reader to fully
understand the message of an expression. Affixes are letters added to a word
root. Adding an affix forms a new word. It can be added before the root or after
the root word. At some point, root words are also useful in getting meanings
from context.

LESSON

Now that we have learned affixes, we can finally get into roots. A root is
a word part that provides the basic meaning of a word. It can be defined as a
basic standalone word in which affixes can be added to create new words.
Studying root words can help increase our proficiency at identifying roots and
forming complete words.

For example: The word bio means life, when the word logy which means
study is connected to bio it becomes biology which means study of life.
Therefore, root word is a basic word which affixes are added to form a new
word and meaning, and this root word can be used to infer meaning of an
idiomatic expression. Other words that can be used as root words are micro,
agri, port, multi, homo and more.

Let us try getting the meaning of an idiomatic expression used in a

sentence with root words and affixes.

They say that the old lady living in the house at the end road has an evil
eye, if she catches you in here gaze, you’ll be malevolently cursed.
 The word malevolently has a prefix “mal” added to a root word which
means bad. Therefore, the meaning of the idiom “evil eye” is “to inflict harm
or misfortune”.

Guided Practice
Let’s try a few items as practice exercise. Match each idiomatic expression in
column A with its meaning in column B. Write the letter of the answer in your
notebook.

Column A Column B

A. To refuse to grant a
1.To go the wall request

2. A bit dicey B. Full of possibility of

danger, failure, or lose

3. Turned down C. Declared in law unable

to pay outstanding debts

Images taken from https:www.google.com

So, let’s find out the answer in the first number. It’s letter C. “To go to
the wall” means bankrupt and the word unable has a root word able which
gives clue to get the idiom meaning. How about in the next number?
 The answer is A. “A bit dicey” means risky and it is related to failure or
lose. If someone fails and loses something maybe he/she takes the risk on a
certain situation. Let’s have the last one.

It’s letter B. “Turned down” means rejected which is associated with the
word refuse.

Now let’s practice more through another exercise. Do a thumbs up if

you think that the sentence infers meaning of idiomatic expression using root
word with affix. Do the thumbs down if not. Here is the first one:

There was once an old lady who lived near the town of the valley. Her
neighbor admires her benevolent character for she extends help to the needy
at all time. She has a golden heart!

The answer is Thumbs up. The sentence uses benevolent which has a
root word “bene” which means good-hearted or has a “golden heart”. Let’s do
another one.

Our dog stopped shaking an hour after we adopted him from the shelter
when he realized he was in safe hands.
 It’s thumbs down. The sentence doesn’t use any root word to get the
meaning of the idiom. Here is another example.

“Cross your fingers”! As a loving mother quote to her daughter, her

kindness reminds the girl to do better on her first day of work.

It’s a thumbs up! The sentence infers meaning of the idiomatic

expression using the root word “kind”. Our innate kindness shows when we
wish for good luck.

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1
Analyze the sentences. On the line after each sentence, put a  mark if the
sentence infers meaning of idiomatic expression using root word with affix, or
an X if otherwise.

_____ 1. After our sumptuous meal, our newly-found relatives offered to foot
the bill.

_____ 2. An artist must see with his heart. He is so lovable!

_____ 3. Sorry I didn’t call you back sooner; I have a lot on my plate right
now.
_____ 4. Nora was participating in the play but she got cold feet. She feels
uncomfortable.

_____ 5. Arman lost his house in the earthquake and he rebuilt a new house
from scratch.

Activity 2
Match the idiom used in a sentence with its meaning. Look for clues through
a root word used with an affix. Write the letter of the answer on the space
before the number.

1. Our product line is getting stale. We need A. Something unclear

to think outside the box and review to
come up with creative new products.
2. Kevin wanted to fix his laptop but he was B. Deterioration
already having problems setting up his new
printer. He didn’t want to open a whole
new can of worms but needs to restart C. Begin working on a
over again. complicated problem
3. A one-tracked mind doesn’t extend a
helping hand. We were appalled by the
selfishness of their behavior. D. Think creatively
4. Disconsolate and exhausted after losing the
match, the wrestler shambled toward the
locker room. E. Selfish
5. There was still grey area because we were
a little unclear about how to proceed.
 WRAP-UP

Here are the things that I have learned throughout this lesson:

 I learned what a root word is.

 I learned that a root word can help in getting the meaning of idiomatic
expression.
 I learned how to think critically.
 It broadened my knowledge about idioms.

VALUING

“If you nurture your mind, body, and spirit, your time will expand. You
will gain a new perspective that will allow you to accomplish much more”.

-Brian Koslow

POSTTEST

Directions: Get the meaning of the underlined idiomatic expressions as how

they are used in sentences containing root words with affixes. The meaning
of the root words are given in the box to serve as clue. Encircle the letter of
your answer.

1. “The bank has confirmed the loan agreement, so it’s a done deal”.
A. Untruthful statement
B. Everything has been decided
C. Something is even worse is going to happen
2. Being in a state of insufferable pain for months is a fate worse than
death itself.
A. A disappointing defeat
B. Something unfair
C. Too extreme to bear, its intolerable

3. He was a complete novice in foreign affairs. He was a greenhorn!

A. Terrifying event
B. Inexperienced in his field or situation
C. Inflexible person

4. We need some able-and-ready volunteers who are capable to set-up

chairs in the meeting hall.
A. A man who is healthy and has the ability to do anything
B. Abnormal
C. Someone who flatters and bowls down

5. I would like to excuse myself for my abominable behavior at the party

last week. I am afraid I lost my temper and said something that is very
offensive.
A. Causing someone to feel deeply hurt, upset or angry
B. Act performed in order to stop something
C. Changing one’s opinion

Root word Meaning

Consent to do something that has
Agree
been suggested
Experience or be subjected to
Suffer
something bad or unpleasant
Nov New, beginner
Able Having the skill to do something
Offense Offense-an illegal act
http://www.google.com
Vocabulary-games-and-activities.pdf, Essential English 6 pp.20-23
References
Pretest Activity 1 Activity 2 Posttest
1. E 1. X 1. D 1. B
2. D 2.  2. C 2. C
3. C 3. X 3. E 3. B
4. B 4.  4. B 4. A
5. A 5.  5. A 5. A
KEY TO CORRECTION