A prefix is added to the start of a word and a suffix to the end. They change the meaning: un- means not (unhappy), re- means again (redo), -ful means full of (hopeful) and -less means without (careless).
Apa yang akan dipelajari anak anda
- Know the meanings of the prefixes un-, re-, dis-, pre- and in-
- Know the meanings of the suffixes -ful, -less, -ness, -er and -ly
- Use prefixes and suffixes to work out new words
Word-building blocks
Once children know a handful of prefixes and suffixes, they can work out hundreds of new words on their own. “Unbreakable” is un + break + able: not able to be broken.
Contoh soalan
Berikut ialah beberapa soalan seperti dalam misi pertama. Bolehkah anda menjawabnya?
1. What does “helpful” mean?
- help again
- ready to help
- not helping
- without help
Tunjuk jawapan
Jawapan: ready to help. The suffix -ful means “full of”, so helpful means full of help.
2. What does “reread” mean?
- read again
- not read
- read before
- read quietly
Tunjuk jawapan
Jawapan: read again. re- means again.
3. What does “fearless” mean?
- full of fear
- without fear
- fear again
- a little fear
Tunjuk jawapan
Jawapan: without fear. -less means without, so fearless means not afraid.
Tip untuk orang dewasa
- Pick a root word like “help” and build as many words as you can: helpful, helpless, helper, unhelpful.
- Spot prefixes and suffixes on signs and packaging.