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 “-less” (meaning “without”) to “care”. Write the new word.
“-less” · “without” · Prefixes & root words
2. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “spell”. Write the new word.
“mis-” · “wrongly” · Prefixes & root words
3. Add the suffix “-ful” (meaning “full of”) to “grace”. Write the new word.
“-ful” · “full of” · Prefixes & root words
4. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “understand”. Write the new word.
“mis-” · “wrongly” · 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 “pre-” (meaning “before”) to the root word “view”. Write the new word.
“pre-” · “before” · Prefixes & root words
7. Add the prefix “super-” (meaning “above” or “beyond”) to “natural”. Write the new word.
“super-” · “above” · Prefixes & root words
8. Add the prefix “re-” (meaning “again”) to the root word “build”. Write the new word.
“re-” · “again” · Prefixes & root words
9. Add the suffix “-less” (meaning “without”) to “fear”. 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 “heat”. Write the new word.
“pre-” · “before” · Prefixes & root words
12. Add the suffix “-ness” (forming a quality noun) to “bright”. Write the new word.
“-ness” · “bright” · Prefixes & root words

12 questions · Seed 49 · 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 “-less” (meaning “without”) to “care”. Write the new word.
careless
care + -less = careless.
2. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “spell”. Write the new word.
misspell
mis- + spell = misspell, retaining both s letters.
3. Add the suffix “-ful” (meaning “full of”) to “grace”. Write the new word.
graceful
grace + -ful = graceful.
4. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “understand”. Write the new word.
misunderstand
mis- + understand = misunderstand, meaning to understand wrongly.
5. Add the prefix “inter-” (meaning “between”) to “national”. Write the new word.
international
inter- + national = international, meaning between nations.
6. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to the root word “view”. Write the new word.
preview
pre- + view = preview, meaning to view beforehand.
7. Add the prefix “super-” (meaning “above” or “beyond”) to “natural”. Write the new word.
supernatural
super- + natural = supernatural.
8. Add the prefix “re-” (meaning “again”) to the root word “build”. Write the new word.
rebuild
re- + build = rebuild, meaning to build again.
9. Add the suffix “-less” (meaning “without”) to “fear”. Write the new word.
fearless
fear + -less = fearless, meaning without fear.
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 “heat”. Write the new word.
preheat
pre- + heat = preheat, meaning to heat beforehand.
12. Add the suffix “-ness” (forming a quality noun) to “bright”. Write the new word.
brightness
bright + -ness = brightness.

12 questions · Seed 49 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Prefixes & root words

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Add the suffix “-less” (meaning “without”) to “care”. Write the new word.
“-less” · “without” · Prefixes & root words
2. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “spell”. Write the new word.
“mis-” · “wrongly” · Prefixes & root words
3. Add the suffix “-ful” (meaning “full of”) to “grace”. Write the new word.
“-ful” · “full of” · Prefixes & root words
4. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “understand”. Write the new word.
“mis-” · “wrongly” · 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 “pre-” (meaning “before”) to the root word “view”. Write the new word.
“pre-” · “before” · Prefixes & root words
7. Add the prefix “super-” (meaning “above” or “beyond”) to “natural”. Write the new word.
“super-” · “above” · Prefixes & root words
8. Add the prefix “re-” (meaning “again”) to the root word “build”. Write the new word.
“re-” · “again” · Prefixes & root words
9. Add the suffix “-less” (meaning “without”) to “fear”. 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 “heat”. Write the new word.
“pre-” · “before” · Prefixes & root words
12. Add the suffix “-ness” (forming a quality noun) to “bright”. Write the new word.
“-ness” · “bright” · Prefixes & root words

12 questions · Seed 49 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Prefixes & root words

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Add the suffix “-less” (meaning “without”) to “care”. Write the new word.
careless
care + -less = careless.
2. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “spell”. Write the new word.
misspell
mis- + spell = misspell, retaining both s letters.
3. Add the suffix “-ful” (meaning “full of”) to “grace”. Write the new word.
graceful
grace + -ful = graceful.
4. Add the prefix “mis-” (meaning “wrongly”) to “understand”. Write the new word.
misunderstand
mis- + understand = misunderstand, meaning to understand wrongly.
5. Add the prefix “inter-” (meaning “between”) to “national”. Write the new word.
international
inter- + national = international, meaning between nations.
6. Add the prefix “pre-” (meaning “before”) to the root word “view”. Write the new word.
preview
pre- + view = preview, meaning to view beforehand.
7. Add the prefix “super-” (meaning “above” or “beyond”) to “natural”. Write the new word.
supernatural
super- + natural = supernatural.
8. Add the prefix “re-” (meaning “again”) to the root word “build”. Write the new word.
rebuild
re- + build = rebuild, meaning to build again.
9. Add the suffix “-less” (meaning “without”) to “fear”. Write the new word.
fearless
fear + -less = fearless, meaning without fear.
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 “heat”. Write the new word.
preheat
pre- + heat = preheat, meaning to heat beforehand.
12. Add the suffix “-ness” (forming a quality noun) to “bright”. Write the new word.
brightness
bright + -ness = brightness.

12 questions · Seed 49 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification