• English has more than 3 million words (we like to borrow, a lot)

• Most languages have far fewer words

• Some languages rarely borrow, and only reluctantly

• The French vigorously attempt to preserve the purity of their language by excluding words from other languages

• But, English, from its start, has always taken words from many sources and incorporated them

WHY DO YOU THINK OUR LANGUAGE IS LIKE THAT?

The primary meaning of a word comes The primary meaning of a word comes from its from its root, or baseroot, or base. In addition to roots, . In addition to roots, affixes also create meaning.affixes also create meaning.

• Affixes are word parts added to either the beginning or end of a word.

• Prefixes come BEFORE the root.

• Suffixes come AFTER the root.

AboutAbout half of the English words are derived, or come half of the English words are derived, or come from, Greek and Latin roots. Knowing these roots will from, Greek and Latin roots. Knowing these roots will help you know the meaning of words before we look them help you know the meaning of words before we look them up in the dictionary. It also helps to see how words are up in the dictionary. It also helps to see how words are often arranged in families with similar characteristics.often arranged in families with similar characteristics.

RootRoot MeaningMeaning ExampleExample

aqua-aqua- waterwaterMoody Garden’s Moody Garden’s aquaaquarium is full of interesting rium is full of interesting fish.fish.

cardi-cardi- heartheartMy uncle saw a My uncle saw a cardicardiologist about the pain in ologist about the pain in his chest.his chest.

funct-funct- perform, perform, workwork

I was having a malI was having a malfunctfunction with my projector ion with my projector before school started..before school started..

http://www.tv411.org/lessons/cfm/vocabulary.cfm?str=vocabulary&num=5&act=1

Common Prefixes PrefixPrefix MeaningMeaning ExampleExample

pre-pre- beforebefore They will show a sneak They will show a sneak prepreview of the view of the movie.movie.

un-un- notnot The plot was The plot was ununbelievable!believable!

re-re- againagain She will She will rerewrite that part of the story.write that part of the story.

mis-mis- notnot I must have I must have mismisunderstood her.understood her.

bi-bi- twotwo She rides a She rides a bibicycle to school.cycle to school.

Prefixes are word parts added to the beginning of a word. Prefixes change the meaning of the word.

Ex. I agree with all of the rules we have established at this school.

I disagree with all of the rules we have established at this school.

http://www.quia.com/rr/37717.html

Common Suffixes

suffixsuffix MeaningMeaning ExampleExample

-able-able able toable to The plot was unbelievThe plot was unbelievableable!!

-ous-ous full offull of Exploring space can be dangerExploring space can be dangerous.ous.

-ness-ness state of state of beingbeing She will filled with happiShe will filled with happiness.ness.

-ful-ful full offull of The train ride was wonderThe train ride was wonderfulful..

Suffixes are word parts added to the end of a word. Suffixes change the words part of speech.

Ex. Rick Perry governs over the state of Texas. (governs is a verb.)

The government of our state regulates all of the laws in our state. (government is a noun)

http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/cgi-bin/phonics/wbw/fishtanks.pl?pre=&base=&suf=&Submit=Continue&ind=0&lastright=true&correct=0&wrong=0