English Language Arts
Grade 3
15 min
Use the prefixes pre-, re-, and mis-
Use the prefixes pre-, re-, and mis-
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define the meaning of the prefixes pre-, re-, and mis-.
Identify the prefix and the root word in a given word.
Explain how adding pre-, re-, or mis- changes a root word's meaning.
Create new words by adding pre-, re-, or mis- to a root word.
Use words with these prefixes correctly in a sentence.
Determine the meaning of an unknown word by understanding its prefix.
Have you ever wanted to do something again, or fix something you did wrong? 🤔 Prefixes are like secret codes at the beginning of words that can help us do just that!
In this lesson, we will learn about three special prefixes: pre-, re-, and mis-. Learning these prefixes will help you understand new words when you are reading and make your own writing more interesting. It's like havin...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PrefixA group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.In the word 'unhappy', the prefix is 'un-'.
Root WordThe main part of a word that has its own meaning. It's the word you have left when you take off a prefix.In the word 'remake', the root word is 'make'.
pre-A prefix that means 'before' or 'in front of'.'pre' + 'view' = 'preview' (to view something before).
re-A prefix that means 'again' or 'back'.'re' + 'do' = 'redo' (to do something again).
mis-A prefix that means 'wrongly' or 'badly'.'mis' + 'understand' = 'misunderstand' (to understand someth...
3
Key Rules & Conventions
The 'pre-' Rule (Before)
pre- + root word
Add 'pre-' to the beginning of a root word to show that something is happening before. For example, to 'preheat' an oven means to heat it before you put the food in.
The 're-' Rule (Again)
re- + root word
Add 're-' to the beginning of a root word to show that something is happening again. For example, to 'reread' a book means to read it again.
The 'mis-' Rule (Wrongly)
mis- + root word
Add 'mis-' to the beginning of a root word to show that something was done wrongly or badly. For example, a 'misstep' is a step taken wrongly.
5 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
Read the paragraph: 'Timmy was told to preheat the oven. He misunderstood the temperature and had to restart the timer. He was worried he would mismanage his time.' Which word describes something that happened *before* the main action of baking?
A.misunderstood
B.preheat
C.restart
D.mismanage
Challenging
Which sentence contains a word where the prefix 'mis-' creates a word with an opposite meaning to the root word?
A.He will misspell the long word.
B.Don't misread the instructions.
C.The puppy might misbehave.
D.Some people mistrust strangers.
Challenging
The root word 'view' can have different prefixes. Which sentence uses a prefixed word that means 'to see something *before* it is officially shown to everyone'?
A.We got to preview the new movie.
B.Let's review our notes for the test.
C.The mountain view was beautiful.
D.I misviewed the sign and went the wrong way.
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing Free