Decoding/Word AttackStructural Analysis: Prefix + Root + Suffix

4th GradeLesson 29

Some longer words are made up of a root or root words plus a prefix and suffix. Turn to your partner

and see how many prefixes and suffixes you can remember in 45 seconds.

How many of these did you remember?un-, dis-, re-, -able, -ly, -ful, -tion

Look at this word and then turn and tell your partner the affixes in the word:

respectful

Did you notice that the prefix is re- and the suffix is –ful?

Now, turn and tell your partner what the root is.

Give a thumbs-up if you recognized the root spect

Now, put together the prefix, root, and suffix to read the word.

Remember that a prefix always forms the first syllable of a word and that a suffix always forms the last syllable(s) of a word.

Look at this chart. Identify the prefix, suffix, and root word in each longer word. Decode each word part and

then read the longer word.

Word Prefix Root or Root Word

Suffix

destruction

recreation

unreliable

dishonestly

de- struct -tion

re- create -tion

un- rely -able

dis- honest -ly

Independent Practice

Look through your independent book or social studies book for words that contain a prefix, a root or root

word, and one or more suffixes. Create a chart like the one on the previous slide to record and analyze the

words you find (find at least 4 words).