Basic prefixes and suffixes for 5th Grade

1. Prefixes and Suffixes
5th Grade

2. What are prefixes?
A prefix is a group of letters we add at the
beginning of a word.
• Prefixes change the meaning or purpose
of the word, e.g.
How has the word meaning been altered?
• un + kind = unkind
The word has become its opposite meaning (antonym)

3. The prefix ‘un’
• Jerry seemed unhappy that the cat was
by his hole.
How has the word meaning been altered?
The word has become its opposite meaning (antonym)

4. Let’s change the meaning to not
or the opposite
fold unfold
tie untie
do undo
real unreal

5. The prefix ‘dis’
• Sally
How has the word meaning been
altered with this prefix?
disagreed agree-----disagree
with Tom
over who
threw the
snowball.
Again the word has become an antonym (opposite) of the root word.

6. Let’s change the words to their
opposites
connect disconnect
approve disapprove
respect disrespect
honest dishonest

7. Prefix ‘im-’
Debby was
impolite with
her mom
sticking her
toungue out.
The word means not or the opposite.

8. Let’s change the words to their
opposites
possible impossible
mortal immortal
mature immature
proper improper

9. The prefix ‘re-’
Danny had to
refill
the bucket.
The prefix re-
means to do
something again

10. Let’s change these words so they
mean to do something again
appear reappear
build rebuild
consider reconsider
join rejoin

11. What are suffixes?
• Suffixes are a group of letters that
are added at the end of the words.
• Suffixes change the meaning or
purpose of the word.
• Example:
Care + ful = careful
It means full of care.

12. Suffixes: -ful / -ous / -or /-er
• Success + -ful = successful (full of
success)
• Courage + -ous = courageous (full of or
having courage)
• Sail + -or= sailor (the one who does the
action = sails)
• Paint + -er = painter (who one who does
the action= paints)

13. Let’s practice
Color + -ful = colorful (Full of
color)
nerve + -ous = nervous (Full of
nerves)
direct + -or = director Person who
directs
write + -er = writer Person who writes