Prefixes
A prefix is a letter pattern that is fixed to the beginning of a word which affects its meaning.
Rethink = re + think re is the prefix and means again.
So to rethink means to think again. There are many prefixes and we will look at them in groups to make it easier to revise them.
Today we are going to look at longer prefixes that are quite common:
pre- mis- sub- trans- tri- extra- auto-
For example to the word view we can add the prefix pre to make preview. Here we have changed the meaning of the word.
The reason we will look at prefixes is to help us with our spelling and also with the meanings of words.
We should always try to find out what a word means, this helps us to understand how to use it and also assists us when we are spelling.
We are going to add these prefixes to other words.
Choose one of these prefixes to the word root word to make a new word. I have put in its meaning.
I have done the first few for you. If you are unsure (not sure) look up the word in a dictionary.
Well that is our introduction to some common prefixes.
I hope that you can see the way that many large, hard to spell words are just made up from smaller words that can be put together. Why not come back again when we will be looking at more prefixes.
Good luck!