EnglishAges 10-12

Prefixes & root words

Combine prefixes with root words and explain how the prefix changes the meaning. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

New variation Try interactive challenge Browse templates

Age band:Ages 10-12 Ages 13-15

Choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy. Use your browser’s paper setting for A4 or Letter.

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Prefixes & root words

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Add the prefix “un-” (meaning “not”) to the root word “happy”. Write the new word.
“un-” · “not” · Prefixes & root words
2. Add the suffix “-ness” (forming a state or quality noun) to “kind”. Write the new word.
“-ness” · “kind” · Prefixes & root words
3. Add the prefix “auto-” (meaning “self”) to “biography”. Write the new word.
“auto-” · “self” · Prefixes & root words
4. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to the root word “view”. Write the new word.
“pre-” · “before” · Prefixes & root words
5. Add the prefix “super-” (meaning “above” or “beyond”) to “natural”. Write the new word.
“super-” · “above” · Prefixes & root words
6. Add the prefix “sub-” (meaning “under”) to “marine”. Write the new word.
“sub-” · “under” · Prefixes & root words
7. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “spell”. Write the new word.
“mis-” · “wrongly” · Prefixes & root words
8. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to “heat”. Write the new word.
“pre-” · “before” · Prefixes & root words
9. Add the prefix “re-” (meaning “again”) to “write”. Write the new word.
“re-” · “again” · Prefixes & root words
10. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “understand”. Write the new word.
“mis-” · “wrongly” · Prefixes & root words
11. Add the prefix “dis-” (meaning “opposite of”) to “connect”. Write the new word.
“dis-” · “opposite of” · Prefixes & root words
12. Add the prefix “dis-” (meaning “not” or “opposite of”) to “agree”. Write the new word.
“dis-” · “not” · Prefixes & root words

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Prefixes & root words

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Add the prefix “un-” (meaning “not”) to the root word “happy”. Write the new word.
unhappy
un- + happy = unhappy, meaning not happy.
2. Add the suffix “-ness” (forming a state or quality noun) to “kind”. Write the new word.
kindness
kind + -ness = kindness, the quality of being kind.
3. Add the prefix “auto-” (meaning “self”) to “biography”. Write the new word.
autobiography
auto- + biography = autobiography, a life story written by oneself.
4. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to the root word “view”. Write the new word.
preview
pre- + view = preview, meaning to view beforehand.
5. Add the prefix “super-” (meaning “above” or “beyond”) to “natural”. Write the new word.
supernatural
super- + natural = supernatural.
6. Add the prefix “sub-” (meaning “under”) to “marine”. Write the new word.
submarine
sub- + marine = submarine, meaning under the sea.
7. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “spell”. Write the new word.
misspell
mis- + spell = misspell, retaining both s letters.
8. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to “heat”. Write the new word.
preheat
pre- + heat = preheat, meaning to heat beforehand.
9. Add the prefix “re-” (meaning “again”) to “write”. Write the new word.
rewrite
re- + write = rewrite, meaning to write again.
10. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “understand”. Write the new word.
misunderstand
mis- + understand = misunderstand, meaning to understand wrongly.
11. Add the prefix “dis-” (meaning “opposite of”) to “connect”. Write the new word.
disconnect
dis- + connect = disconnect.
12. Add the prefix “dis-” (meaning “not” or “opposite of”) to “agree”. Write the new word.
disagree
dis- + agree = disagree, meaning to hold a different opinion.

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Prefixes & root words

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Add the prefix “un-” (meaning “not”) to the root word “happy”. Write the new word.
“un-” · “not” · Prefixes & root words
2. Add the suffix “-ness” (forming a state or quality noun) to “kind”. Write the new word.
“-ness” · “kind” · Prefixes & root words
3. Add the prefix “auto-” (meaning “self”) to “biography”. Write the new word.
“auto-” · “self” · Prefixes & root words
4. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to the root word “view”. Write the new word.
“pre-” · “before” · Prefixes & root words
5. Add the prefix “super-” (meaning “above” or “beyond”) to “natural”. Write the new word.
“super-” · “above” · Prefixes & root words
6. Add the prefix “sub-” (meaning “under”) to “marine”. Write the new word.
“sub-” · “under” · Prefixes & root words
7. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “spell”. Write the new word.
“mis-” · “wrongly” · Prefixes & root words
8. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to “heat”. Write the new word.
“pre-” · “before” · Prefixes & root words
9. Add the prefix “re-” (meaning “again”) to “write”. Write the new word.
“re-” · “again” · Prefixes & root words
10. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “understand”. Write the new word.
“mis-” · “wrongly” · Prefixes & root words
11. Add the prefix “dis-” (meaning “opposite of”) to “connect”. Write the new word.
“dis-” · “opposite of” · Prefixes & root words
12. Add the prefix “dis-” (meaning “not” or “opposite of”) to “agree”. Write the new word.
“dis-” · “not” · Prefixes & root words

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Prefixes & root words

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Add the prefix “un-” (meaning “not”) to the root word “happy”. Write the new word.
unhappy
un- + happy = unhappy, meaning not happy.
2. Add the suffix “-ness” (forming a state or quality noun) to “kind”. Write the new word.
kindness
kind + -ness = kindness, the quality of being kind.
3. Add the prefix “auto-” (meaning “self”) to “biography”. Write the new word.
autobiography
auto- + biography = autobiography, a life story written by oneself.
4. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to the root word “view”. Write the new word.
preview
pre- + view = preview, meaning to view beforehand.
5. Add the prefix “super-” (meaning “above” or “beyond”) to “natural”. Write the new word.
supernatural
super- + natural = supernatural.
6. Add the prefix “sub-” (meaning “under”) to “marine”. Write the new word.
submarine
sub- + marine = submarine, meaning under the sea.
7. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “spell”. Write the new word.
misspell
mis- + spell = misspell, retaining both s letters.
8. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to “heat”. Write the new word.
preheat
pre- + heat = preheat, meaning to heat beforehand.
9. Add the prefix “re-” (meaning “again”) to “write”. Write the new word.
rewrite
re- + write = rewrite, meaning to write again.
10. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “understand”. Write the new word.
misunderstand
mis- + understand = misunderstand, meaning to understand wrongly.
11. Add the prefix “dis-” (meaning “opposite of”) to “connect”. Write the new word.
disconnect
dis- + connect = disconnect.
12. Add the prefix “dis-” (meaning “not” or “opposite of”) to “agree”. Write the new word.
disagree
dis- + agree = disagree, meaning to hold a different opinion.

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification