English Language Arts
Grade 11
15 min
Determine the meanings of words with prefixes and suffixes: review
Determine the meanings of words with prefixes and suffixes: review
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Deconstruct complex, multi-syllabic words from American literature into their constituent morphemes (prefix, root, suffix).
Infer the meaning of unfamiliar academic and literary vocabulary by analyzing common Greek and Latin prefixes and suffixes.
Differentiate between inflectional and derivational suffixes and explain how they alter a word's grammatical function or meaning.
Apply knowledge of etymology to analyze an author's diction and its effect on tone and meaning in a given text.
Synthesize their understanding of word parts to construct precise definitions for words encountered in AP-level non-fiction and literary texts.
Evaluate how the addition of a prefix or suffix can introduce nuance or a specific connotation to a base word.
Ever encou...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
MorphemeThe smallest grammatical unit in a language that carries meaning. Words are composed of one or more morphemes.In the word 'unreliability', the morphemes are 'un-' (not), 'rely' (to trust), '-able' (can be done), and '-ity' (state of being).
Root WordThe core morpheme of a word that holds the primary meaning, to which prefixes and suffixes are attached.The Latin root 'port' means 'to carry', which is the foundation of words like 'transport', 'import', and 'portable'.
AffixA morpheme added to a root word to change its meaning or function. Affixes are categorized as prefixes (added to the beginning) and suffixes (added to the end).In 'antidisestablishment...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Deconstruction Protocol
Prefix + Root + Suffix = Meaning
To determine a word's meaning, first identify and isolate the root. Then, analyze the prefix(es) to see how they modify the root's meaning. Finally, analyze the suffix(es) to understand the word's grammatical function and complete its meaning.
The Assimilation Principle
Prefixes often change spelling to match the first letter of the root.
Be aware of phonetic assimilation, where a prefix like 'in-' (not) becomes 'il-' before 'l' (illegal), 'im-' before 'p' (impossible), or 'ir-' before 'r' (irrefutable). Recognizing these patterns is key to correctly identifying the prefix and root.
Connotation is King
Etymology provides the...
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Challenging
The Declaration of Independence uses 'inalienable'. The tutorial defines this as 'non-transferable'. How does the synthesis of its morphemes—'in-' (not), 'alien' (foreign, another), and '-able' (capable of)—create a meaning more profound for human rights than simply 'permanent'?
A.It suggests the rights are foreign and don't belong to humans naturally.
B.It implies the rights cannot be made foreign to a person; they are an intrinsic part of one's being that cannot be given or taken away.
C.It means the rights are capable of being strange or alienating to a government.
D.It has the exact same meaning as 'permanent', but sounds more academic.
Challenging
In an AP-style essay analyzing an author's tone, you argue the author creates a tone of scholarly objectivity. Which of the following word choices would best support this claim through its etymological roots suggesting a systematic examination?
A.'vehement' disagreement (from 'vehemens', violent, impetuous)
B.An 'intuitive' conclusion (from 'intueri', to gaze at, consider)
C.'dispassionate' analysis (from 'dis-' (not) + 'passio' (suffering, feeling))
D.'visceral' reaction (from 'viscera', internal organs)
Challenging
An author coins the term 'hyper-correction' to describe a character's speech. Synthesizing your knowledge of morphemes, what is the most precise and nuanced definition of this neologism?
A.state of being extremely correct all the time.
B.An error in language made from a mistaken attempt to be overly formal or correct.
C.correction that is delivered with too much speed.
D.The act of correcting other people's grammar.
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