Greek and Latin Roots and Affixes
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Basics on the topic Greek and Latin Roots and Affixes
Learn about Greek and Latin roots of words in this video.
Transcript Greek and Latin Roots and Affixes
Greek and Latin roots and affixes "Thanks for coming to the movie premiere with me, Koko." The Arachnid is my favourite actor! "Never heard of him." "I hope I get his name on my poster!" "You mean his autograph?" Autograph is a word made from ancient root parts. Greek and Latin roots and affixes are the building blocks of the English language. Roots are the part of the word that carry meaning. Affixes are word parts that we add to the beginning or end of a root to give additional meaning. There are two types of affixes. Prefixes are added to the beginning of the root and suffixes are added to the end. Learning Greek and Latin roots helps us understand the meaning of words. Graph is an example of a Greek root. ‘Graph’ means to write or record something. When we see this word by itself, we think of the meaning of showing data. We can change this meaning by adding prefixes to it. When we add a prefix to it, such as ‘auto’, we change the meaning by adding additional information. The prefix ‘auto’ means by oneself so, an autograph is to write, or sign, your name yourself. There are many words that are made with the root, ‘graph’. We can change the prefix again to change the meaning. We can make this ‘photo’, meaning light, for photograph. A photograph is recording an image using light. Now, let's change the prefix to ‘tele’, which means far away. The new word is telegraph. What is a telegraph? A telegraph is an instrument used to send written messages to faraway places. We also get many of our English words from Latin. ‘Aud’ is an example of a Latin root. The meaning of ‘aud’ is to hear or listen. The root, ‘aud’, cannot stand on its own as a word, it needs an affix, usually a suffix, added to become common English words. We can add the suffix ‘ible’, meaning ‘able to be’. We have made the word audible. If something is audible, then we are able to hear it. We can make another word by changing the suffix. If we add ‘ience’ to ‘aud’, we have audience. An audience is a group of people who are listening to a performance. In this word, we changed the suffix to ‘ition’. ‘Ition’ means the state of being. What does the word, audition, mean? An audition is the state of when a person is being heard performing to show off their abilities for a role or a part. Based on the applause, it sounds like Pip's favourite star is coming, so let's review. Remember, Greek and Latin roots and affixes are the building blocks of the English language. Roots are the part of the word that carry meaning. Affixes are word parts that we add to the beginning or end of a root to give additional meaning. Learning Greek and Latin roots helps us become better readers because they help us understand the meaning of words. "Yoohoo! Mr. The Arachnid! May I please get your autograph?" "Sp..Sp..Spider!"
Greek and Latin Roots and Affixes exercise
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Help Koko unscramble the terms.
HintsThere are two types of affixes. Do you remember what they are?
A word that starts with "pre-" often means something that comes first. For example, a preschool is a place for children to go before they start school.
What do you think the "pre-" in the word, prefix, means?
SolutionRoots: carry the primary meaning of the word.
Affixes: can be added to the beginning or the end of a word.
Prefixes: are added to the beginning of words.
Suffixes: are added to the end of words.
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True or False?
HintsAn aeroplane pilot's job is to fly the aeroplane. What does this tell you about the meaning of the root "pilot"?
In the video, Pip wanted to get an autograph. The image here shows you an example of one.
Think about what the prefix auto means in the word, autograph, and combine it with the root, pilot.
SolutionThe answer is true!
The prefix, auto, means by oneself and the root, pilot, means to drive. So the word, "autopilot", means a plane, car or ship that can drive itself!
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Help Koko find the meaning of the word below.
HintsIn the video, we learnt that a telegraph is a device used to send messages from far away.
The word, telescope, has the same prefix, "tele". What do you think it means?
This image shows a telescope. What would you use this device for?
Solution- "Tele" means far.
- "Scope" means to see.
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Complete the words based on the descriptions below.
HintsThe suffix -ition means the action or state of.
-ible is a suffix that means able to.
Aud is a root that means to hear.
Solution1.The study of hearing and sounds : audiology.
- Aud- means to hear.
- -logy means the study of.
2.The action or state of lighting a fire: Ignition.
Ign- is a root that means starting a fire.
-ition is a suffix that means the action or state of.
3.Able to be eaten: edible.
- Ed- is a root that means to eat.
- -ible is a suffix that means able to.
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What does the word "biography" mean?
HintsThe word, graph, by itself means to show data; however, the root, graph, has a different meaning.
Do you know what it means?
Combine the meanings of both the root ,graph, and the prefix, bio, to get the meaning of the word, "biography".
The prefix 'bio' means life.
SolutionA "biography" is a book about someone's life!
The root, graph, means to write and the prefix, bio, means life.
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Help Pip and Koko with their homework.
HintsArchaeo- means ancient.
What suffix means the study of?
Micro- means small.
What root means to see?
Can you think of the prefix that means life?
Use this word bank below to fill in the gaps:
scope, logy, graph, bio
SolutionParagraph: A section of writing in a larger essay or article.
- Para- is a prefix that means alongside.
- -graph is a root that means to write.
Archaeology: The study of ancient artefacts.
- Archaeo- is a root that means ancient.
- -logy is a suffix that means the study of.
Microscope: A device that helps you see things up close.
- Micro- is a prefix that means small.
- -scope is a root that means to see.
Biology: The study of animal and plant life.
- Bio is a root that means life.
- -logy is a suffix that means the study of.
