Reading the Word Surgery Chart

Prefix
Prefix
Root
Suffix
Suffix
un-
re-
act
-ive
-ly
unreactively

Prefix

A prefix is in the beginning of a word. When we write a prefix, we put a hyphen (-) after it to show that it attaches to the front of a word.

Examples:

  • un- (i.e., unlucky)
  • mis- (i.e., mistake)
  • photo- (i.e., photograph)

Root

This is the word we start with. The final meaning of the word depends on the root, which is sometimes called the base.

Examples:

  • believe in believable
  • know in knowledge
  • act in inaction

Suffix

Suffixes come at the end of the word. We show a hyphen in front of a suffix.

Examples:

  • -tion (i.e, creation)
  • -s (i.e., apples)
  • -er (i.e., worker)

2026-04-15 12:33