Help with Root Words: How to Identify Root Words

When you understand how to locate root words and determine their meanings, you'll be able to figure out the definition of new, unfamiliar words. Read on to find out more about root words and how they can help you decode.

Find available tutors

Identifying Root Words

What are Root Words?

A root word, also known as a base word, is a real and complete word. They can be used alone in sentences and have their own definitions. However, they can also be made into new words by adding on affixes. Affixes are word parts added to the front or end of root words to create brand new words. Affixes are also known as prefixes and suffixes, which will be described later.

Word Families

One way to recognize root words is to become familiar with word families. Word families refer to a group of words that share the same letter patterns. They can be used to not only identify certain words, but pronounce them correctly as well. Knowing word families can help you have an easier time identifying root words and increase your reading vocabulary. There are many different word families, but ten of the most common have been provided below.

  • -ack- back, rack, sack, pack, lack
  • -ake- rake, bake, sake, shake, make
  • -eat- meat, beat, seat, cheat, heat
  • -ice- nice, rice, spice, mice, slice
  • -ight- night, right, fight, sight, flight
  • -ock- clock, knock, flock, sock, rock
  • -ore- core, sore, pore, shore, more
  • old- cold, bold, sold, fold, told
  • uck- luck, buck, stuck, pluck, duck
  • unk- sunk, chunk, hunk, dunk, plunk

Prefixes

Prefixes are placed at the beginning of root words to create new words. The prefixes have their own definitions that are combined to the definitions of the root words they are connected to. When this connection is made, the meaning of the root word is changed. Therefore, learning prefixes and their meanings will help you identify the root words and determine the meanings of new words you encounter. Some common prefixes and their definitions are provided below with examples of how they connect to root words.

  • im- not
Immobile: Not mobile or not able to move.
  • re- again
Restart: To start again.
  • dis- not or opposite of
Disagree: Does not agree.
  • pre- before
Predetermine: To determine before or to make a decision before.

Suffixes

Suffixes are placed at the end of root words to create new words. Like prefixes, they have their own definitions that connect to the definitions of root words. When they are connected to root words, they change or enhance the root word's meaning. Some common suffixes and their definitions are provided below with examples of how they connect to root words.

  • er- one who
Planter: One who plants.
  • or- one who
Actor: One who acts.
  • less- without
Powerless: Without power.
  • able- can or can be
Doable: Can be done.

Break the Word Apart

Once you know the information above, to decode a word, you simply have to search those individual parts in the new word. After finding the parts, break the word down and isolate the root word from the affix. With the parts separated, you'll determine their individual meanings, and then combine the meanings to get the definition for the new word. In the example below, the new word is unreachable.

1. Break the word into the individual parts: un reach able. This word has both a prefix and a suffix.

2. Determine the individual meaning of each part.

Un = not
Reach = to get to
Able = can be

3. Combine the meanings. If this word was just reachable, we would know that it would mean able to be reached. However since the prefix un- has been added to it, we know that unreachable means not able to be reached.

Did you find this useful? If so, please let others know!

Other Articles You May Be Interested In

  • More Blog Articles
    How to Teach Your Kids to Use the Internet Responsibly

    A question for parents: would you allow your children to play outside without keeping an eye on them? Many would likely say no. Well, the same mentality should be used when your kids use the Internet; in other words, kids should not be allowed to roam the vast world of the Internet unsupervised and without fully understanding its...

  • More Blog Articles
    How Do You Feel About a No-Zero Policy for Student Assignments?

    Let's face it: failing is a part of life. It's a fact many learn as children. But over the past few years schools across the country have adopted no-zero policies for assignments and even tests; in other words, students simply can't fail. What kind of message does this send to our kids?

We Found 7 Tutors You Might Be Interested In

Huntington Learning

  • What Huntington Learning offers:
  • Online and in-center tutoring
  • One on one tutoring
  • Every Huntington tutor is certified and trained extensively on the most effective teaching methods
In-Center and Online

K12

  • What K12 offers:
  • Online tutoring
  • Has a strong and effective partnership with public and private schools
  • AdvancED-accredited corporation meeting the highest standards of educational management
Online Only

Kaplan Kids

  • What Kaplan Kids offers:
  • Online tutoring
  • Customized learning plans
  • Real-Time Progress Reports track your child's progress
Online Only

Kumon

  • What Kumon offers:
  • In-center tutoring
  • Individualized programs for your child
  • Helps your child develop the skills and study habits needed to improve their academic performance
In-Center and Online

Sylvan Learning

  • What Sylvan Learning offers:
  • Online and in-center tutoring
  • Sylvan tutors are certified teachers who provide personalized instruction
  • Regular assessment and progress reports
In-Home, In-Center and Online

Tutor Doctor

  • What Tutor Doctor offers:
  • In-Home tutoring
  • One on one attention by the tutor
  • Develops personlized programs by working with your child's existing homework
In-Home Only

TutorVista

  • What TutorVista offers:
  • Online tutoring
  • Student works one-on-one with a professional tutor
  • Using the virtual whiteboard workspace to share problems, solutions and explanations
Online Only

Our Commitment to You

  • Free Help from Teachers

  • Free Learning Materials

  • Helping Disadvantaged Youth