INFERRING

MEANING OF
WORDS USING
ROOTS
Divide the spelled words into
roots/ affixes (prefix or suffix)

Astrology
Empathy
Pseudonym
Carnivore
Biology
A root is a set of letters that
have meaning. It is the
most basic form of a word.
Affixes are added to the
root to create a new word.
Example:

The Latin root ject means

“throw”
So project can mean “to
throw forward”
A root can be at the front,
middle or end of a word.
Many words in English
language are based from
Greek and Latin word
roots.
 English words can have all
three parts.
Prefix + roots + suffix
Ab + duct + ed
Away from + to lead/pull+
verb: past tense –ed
Abducted means “pulled or lead away from”
•The general was abducted by
masked gunmen
Roots can appear more than once
and appear anywhere in the word.

Word Meaning
geology earth study / study of the
earth
telegraph distance writing / writing
that travels far
tricycle three wheels
asocial not being companionable /
not wanting to join others
Which of the following shows a root with
an affix?

a. bicycle b. hippopotamus

How did you know?

Skill •Highlight the word root
steps (or roots). What does the
word root mean?
•Look at the remainder of
the word. What does the
prefix/suffix mean?
•Use the word root table to
determine the meaning.
Guess the meaning of the word through the given
meaning of its roots and/or affixes.

•If astro means “stars” and logy

means the “study of”, what does
astrology mean?

•If bio means “life”, what does

biology mean?
•If em- or en- means “having” and
pathy means “feeling”, what does
empathy mean?

•If amor means “love”, what does

enamor mean?
•If pseudo means “false” and nym
means “name”, what does
pseudonym mean?

•If aque/aqua means “water” and

duct means “to lead or pull”, what
does aqueduct mean?
•If retro means “backwards”, spect
means “look” and -ive means
“having quality of”, what does
retrospective mean?

•If carni means “meat”, vor means

“eat” and –e means “one who”,
what does carnivore mean?
R
Root is the most basic part of a
E
M word that has meaning.
E Knowing and using Greek and
M Latin word roots can help you
B figure out or determine the
E meaning of words you don’t
R
recognize.

This will make you a better

reader and writer.
Choose the meaning of the word basing from the given
meaning of the root. Write the letter of the best answer.

1. Which of the following root

words match their meanings?
a. meter – measure
b. equi – half
c. bio- two
d. graph – write
2. The root word of the words
thermos, thermal and thermostat
mean
a. cold
b. heat
c. dark
d. light
3. The words chronological,
synchronize, and chronicle all have
to do with
a. time
b. money
c. action
d. number
4. Which of the following has a
root word that means to write?
a. publish
b. revoke
c. vocal
d. inscribe
5. The words extract and
extrasensory share the root word
extra. Which of the following is the
meaning of extra?
a. inside of
b. outside of
c. around
d. without
A
s
S Using the dictionary list
i
g
down 5 borrowed words.
n Identify the roots and give
m
e the meaning. Use the words
n in sentences.
t