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 suffix “-ful” (meaning “full of”) to “hope”. Write the new word.
“-ful” · “full of” · Prefixes & root words
2. Add the prefix “auto-” (meaning “self”) to “biography”. Write the new word.
“auto-” · “self” · Prefixes & root words
3. Add the suffix “-ness” (forming a state or quality noun) to “kind”. Write the new word.
“-ness” · “kind” · Prefixes & root words
4. Add the prefix “sub-” (meaning “under”) to “marine”. Write the new word.
“sub-” · “under” · Prefixes & root words
5. Add the prefix “inter-” (meaning “between”) to “national”. Write the new word.
“inter-” · “between” · Prefixes & root words
6. Add the prefix “tri-” (meaning “three”) to “angle”. Write the new word.
“tri-” · “three” · 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 “un-” (meaning “not”) to “certain”. Write the new word.
“un-” · “not” · Prefixes & root words
9. Add the suffix “-less” (meaning “without”) to “care”. Write the new word.
“-less” · “without” · Prefixes & root words
10. Add the suffix “-ment” (forming an action or result noun) to “improve”. Write the new word.
“-ment” · “improve” · Prefixes & root words
11. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to the root word “view”. Write the new word.
“pre-” · “before” · Prefixes & root words
12. Add the prefix “bi-” (meaning “two”) to “cycle”. Write the new word.
“bi-” · “two” · Prefixes & root words

12 questions · Seed 46 · 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 suffix “-ful” (meaning “full of”) to “hope”. Write the new word.
hopeful
hope + -ful = hopeful, meaning full of hope.
2. Add the prefix “auto-” (meaning “self”) to “biography”. Write the new word.
autobiography
auto- + biography = autobiography, a life story written by oneself.
3. 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.
4. Add the prefix “sub-” (meaning “under”) to “marine”. Write the new word.
submarine
sub- + marine = submarine, meaning under the sea.
5. Add the prefix “inter-” (meaning “between”) to “national”. Write the new word.
international
inter- + national = international, meaning between nations.
6. Add the prefix “tri-” (meaning “three”) to “angle”. Write the new word.
triangle
tri- + angle = triangle, a polygon with three angles.
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 “un-” (meaning “not”) to “certain”. Write the new word.
uncertain
un- + certain = uncertain, meaning not certain.
9. Add the suffix “-less” (meaning “without”) to “care”. Write the new word.
careless
care + -less = careless.
10. Add the suffix “-ment” (forming an action or result noun) to “improve”. Write the new word.
improvement
improve + -ment = improvement.
11. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to the root word “view”. Write the new word.
preview
pre- + view = preview, meaning to view beforehand.
12. Add the prefix “bi-” (meaning “two”) to “cycle”. Write the new word.
bicycle
bi- + cycle = bicycle, a vehicle with two wheels.

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Prefixes & root words

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Add the suffix “-ful” (meaning “full of”) to “hope”. Write the new word.
“-ful” · “full of” · Prefixes & root words
2. Add the prefix “auto-” (meaning “self”) to “biography”. Write the new word.
“auto-” · “self” · Prefixes & root words
3. Add the suffix “-ness” (forming a state or quality noun) to “kind”. Write the new word.
“-ness” · “kind” · Prefixes & root words
4. Add the prefix “sub-” (meaning “under”) to “marine”. Write the new word.
“sub-” · “under” · Prefixes & root words
5. Add the prefix “inter-” (meaning “between”) to “national”. Write the new word.
“inter-” · “between” · Prefixes & root words
6. Add the prefix “tri-” (meaning “three”) to “angle”. Write the new word.
“tri-” · “three” · 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 “un-” (meaning “not”) to “certain”. Write the new word.
“un-” · “not” · Prefixes & root words
9. Add the suffix “-less” (meaning “without”) to “care”. Write the new word.
“-less” · “without” · Prefixes & root words
10. Add the suffix “-ment” (forming an action or result noun) to “improve”. Write the new word.
“-ment” · “improve” · Prefixes & root words
11. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to the root word “view”. Write the new word.
“pre-” · “before” · Prefixes & root words
12. Add the prefix “bi-” (meaning “two”) to “cycle”. Write the new word.
“bi-” · “two” · Prefixes & root words

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Prefixes & root words

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Add the suffix “-ful” (meaning “full of”) to “hope”. Write the new word.
hopeful
hope + -ful = hopeful, meaning full of hope.
2. Add the prefix “auto-” (meaning “self”) to “biography”. Write the new word.
autobiography
auto- + biography = autobiography, a life story written by oneself.
3. 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.
4. Add the prefix “sub-” (meaning “under”) to “marine”. Write the new word.
submarine
sub- + marine = submarine, meaning under the sea.
5. Add the prefix “inter-” (meaning “between”) to “national”. Write the new word.
international
inter- + national = international, meaning between nations.
6. Add the prefix “tri-” (meaning “three”) to “angle”. Write the new word.
triangle
tri- + angle = triangle, a polygon with three angles.
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 “un-” (meaning “not”) to “certain”. Write the new word.
uncertain
un- + certain = uncertain, meaning not certain.
9. Add the suffix “-less” (meaning “without”) to “care”. Write the new word.
careless
care + -less = careless.
10. Add the suffix “-ment” (forming an action or result noun) to “improve”. Write the new word.
improvement
improve + -ment = improvement.
11. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to the root word “view”. Write the new word.
preview
pre- + view = preview, meaning to view beforehand.
12. Add the prefix “bi-” (meaning “two”) to “cycle”. Write the new word.
bicycle
bi- + cycle = bicycle, a vehicle with two wheels.

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification