5th Grade Spelling Homework Helper

5th Grade Spelling Tips

Affixes

Affixes are small groups or pairs of letters added to root words. They have their own individual meanings. When added to a base word, they help create brand-new words. The two types of affixes are prefixes and suffixes. When you're able to learn these and recognize them in words, it often makes spelling easier.

Prefixes

Prefixes are the affixes added to the front of base words. When you add a prefix to a word, it will usually not change the word's part of speech. This means that if you add a prefix to a verb the word will generally remain a verb. Some of the more common prefixes you'll encounter are provided below.

• Re - again

Revisit: To visit again.

• Pre - before

Prejudge: To judge before.

• Dis - not or opposite of

Disapprove: Does not approve.

• Im - not

Impossible: Not possible.

Suffixes

Suffixes are added to the end of base words. Unlike prefixes, when you add a suffix to a base word, you can change the part of speech. For example, adding the suffix -er to a verb typically changes it to a noun. (You can see this with the verb 'talk'. Adding '-er' at the end changes it to the noun 'talker.') Below are some other common suffixes you'll often find on spelling homework.

• Less - without

Useless: Without use.

• Ant - someone who

Assistant: Someone who assists.

• Able - can or can be

Readable: Can be read.

• Ship - state of being

Friendship: State of being friends.

Silent Letters

Some words are spelled with letters that are not actually pronounced when saying the word aloud. These unspoken letters are called silent letters. The existence of these letters often trips up students when they're trying to spell certain words. Some common occurrences of silent letters are described below with examples.

Silent G

G is usually silent whenever it is followed by an 'n' or 'h' in a word.

• Foreign
• Sign
• Neighbor
• Sleigh

Silent H

H is often silent at the beginning of many words.

• Hour
• Herb
• Honest
• Heir

Silent K

K is typically silent when it is followed by an 'n' at the beginning of the word.

• Knowledge
• Knee
• Knock
• Knife