Practice Identifying Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words

This exercise will give you practice in recognizing and using common prefixes, suffixes, and roots.

Instructions

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36 Common Prefixes in English

By Richard Nordquist

For each sentence below, study the one word that's in bold print. See if you can identify the root word (or base) along with any prefixes and/or suffixes that are attached to it. After you have filled in all the blanks, compare your answers with those below.

1. We watched a preview of the new Pixar movie.
   Root: ____________​
   Prefix: ____________
2. The dancing cat was seen by more than two-million YouTube viewers.
   Root: ____________
   Suffix: ____________
3. The teacher handed out paper hearts to the students who had done extra work.
   Root: ____________
   Suffix: ____________
4. The magician made the rabbit disappear.
   Root: ____________
   Prefix: ____________
5. At the end of his performance, the magician made a graceful bow to the audience.
   Root: ____________
   Suffix: ____________
6. Shyla asked the magician for his autograph.
   Root: ____________
   Prefix: ____________
7. Because of the lightness of the breeze, the sailboat moved quite slowly.
   Root: ____________
   Suffix: ____________
8. Despite the heaviness of his backpack, Jack raced up the hill.
   Root: ____________
   Suffix: ____________
9. Some dogs are shy or unfriendly, and they might bark or snap if you try to pet them.
   Root: ____________
   Prefix: ____________
   Suffix: ____________
10. Esther quickly reopened the door and called for her cat.
    Root: ____________
    Prefix: ____________
    Suffix: ____________
11. We stood on a bluff overlooking the ocean.
    Root: ____________
    Prefix: ____________
    Suffix: ____________
12. In today's world, no part of the globe is unreachable.
    Root: ____________
    Prefix: ____________
    Suffix: ____________
13. My father never let anyone see him dressed informally.
    Root: ____________
    Prefix: ____________
    Suffix: ____________
14. Everyone thought that Mr. Darcy was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world.
    Root: ____________
    Prefix: ____________
    Suffix: ____________
15. Preschoolers should have plenty of opportunities to run, play, and listen to stories.
    Root: ____________
    Prefix: ____________
    Suffix: ____________
16. The speaker pointed out the unfairness of blaming high schools for the poor preparation of college freshmen in reading, writing, and math.
    Root: ____________
    Prefix: ____________
    Suffix: ____________

Answers

Below are the answers to the exercise:

1. Root: view
   Prefix: pre-
2. Root: view
   Suffix: -ers
3. Root: teach
   Suffix: -er
4. Root: appear
   Prefix: dis-
5. Root: grace
   Suffix: -ful
6. Root: graph
   Prefix: auto-
7. Root: light
   Suffix: -ness
8. Root: heavy
   Suffix: -ness
9. Root: friend
   Prefix: un-
   Suffix: -ly
10. Root: open
    Prefix: re-
    Suffix: -ed
11. Root: look
    Prefix: over-
    Suffix: -ing
12. Root: reach
    Prefix: un-
    Suffix: -able
13. Root: formal
    Prefix: in-
    Suffix: -ly
14. Root: agree
    Prefix: dis-
    Suffix: -able
15. Root: school
    Prefix: -pre
    Suffix: -ers
16. Root: fair
    Prefix: un-
    Suffix: -ness