Prefixes and Suffixes

This resource has been written for Teachit English by Emela Milne and
Victoria Honeybourne, co-authors of The Speech, Language and
Communication Pocketbook (Teachers’ Pocketbooks, 2014). They
deliver training in speech, language and communication needs and
have presented on the topic at national education events.

Emela Milne is a speech and language therapist with 25 years’

experience working with children and young people with speech,
language and communication needs. She has worked alongside school
staff in mainstream nursery, primary and secondary school settings.

Victoria Honeybourne is a senior advisory teacher for speech, language

and communication needs. She is also the author of The Sky’s the
Limit: A mental wellbeing workbook for young people with SEN
(Speechmark, 2015).

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 Prefix Word generator Suffix
Write a root word in the
cloud. Add a prefix or
suffix to make a new
word.
Use it in a sentence.

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 -able –ible (can be

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done)

anti (against) -ed (past tense

verb)
bi (two)
-er (comparison)
dis (not)
-er (person who
fore (before) does something
e.g. worker)
over (over)
-ful (full of)

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pre (before)
-ing (verb form)
re (again)
-ise (verb)
un (not)
-less (without)
under (under)
-ly (characteristic
of)

-s –es (plural, third

person verb)
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 Instructions for assembling the slider

• Cut out the red and green

strips of prefix and suffix
words.

• Cut out the dark blue slots

on the first sheet.

• Use scrap paper and sticky

tape to make holders with
paper strips on the back of
the first sheet.

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 Instructions for using your slider

• Insert prefix and suffix strips

and turn over.
• You are ready to start using
your Prefix and suffix slider as
a word generator.
• Use a white board pen in the
root word cloud so you can
wipe it off and change the
root word.

Here’s an example: care + ful = careful

When I cross the road I must be careful.

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 Root word list

• do • confident • point • cover

• heat • believe • walk • safe
• ground • watch • act • plan
• happy • stand • imagine • trust
• care • look • social • legal
• cast • read • active • cycle
• view • hope • historic • jump
• organise • like • help • judge
• respect • write • war • modern
• interest

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