Word Building
Master the art of creating new words through prefixes, suffixes, root words, and compound formation
What is Word Building?
Word building is the process of creating new words by combining existing word parts like prefixes, suffixes, and root words. It's a powerful way to expand your vocabulary and understand how words are constructed in English. By learning word building techniques, you can decode unfamiliar words and create new ones.
Methods of Word Building
1. Prefixes
Definition
Word parts added to the beginning of words
Examples
un-, re-, pre-, dis-, mis-
Usage
Change meaning or create opposites
Sentence
The unhappy child was misbehaving.
2. Suffixes
Definition
Word parts added to the end of words
Examples
-ly, -ness, -ful, -less, -tion
Usage
Change word class or add meaning
Sentence
The teacher spoke carefully about happiness.
3. Root Words
Definition
Base words that carry core meaning
Examples
act, form, port, struct, dict
Usage
Foundation for building complex words
Sentence
The actor performed an action actively.
4. Compound Words
Definition
Words made from two or more words
Examples
sunshine, homework, basketball
Usage
Combine meanings to create new concepts
Sentence
The homework was done in the sunshine.
Common Prefixes and Suffixes
Common Prefixes
Common Suffixes
Interactive Quiz 1: Identify Word Parts
Break down these words into their parts:
1. "Unhappiness" = _____ + _____ + _____
Show Answer
Answer: un- + happy + -ness
2. "Misunderstanding" = _____ + _____ + _____
Show Answer
Answer: mis- + understand + -ing
3. "Preparations" = _____ + _____ + _____
Show Answer
Answer: pre- + prepare + -ation + -s
Interactive Quiz 2: Create New Words
Add prefixes or suffixes to create new words:
1. Add "un-" to "happy" = _____
Show Answer
Answer: unhappy
2. Add "-ness" to "kind" = _____
Show Answer
Answer: kindness
3. Add "re-" to "write" = _____
Show Answer
Answer: rewrite
Interactive Quiz 3: Compound Word Formation
Combine words to create compound words:
1. "Sun" + "shine" = _____
Show Answer
Answer: sunshine
2. "Home" + "work" = _____
Show Answer
Answer: homework
3. "Basket" + "ball" = _____
Show Answer
Answer: basketball
Interactive Quiz 4: Word Building Challenge
Build words using these word parts:
Use: "re-" + "form" + "-ation"
Show Answer
Answer: reformation
Use: "un-" + "forget" + "-able"
Show Answer
Answer: unforgettable
Use: "pre-" + "determine" + "-ed"
Show Answer
Answer: predetermined
Notes:
- • Word building helps you understand unfamiliar words by breaking them down into familiar parts
- • Prefixes usually change the meaning of words, while suffixes often change the word class
- • Compound words can be written as one word, hyphenated, or as separate words
- • Learning common prefixes and suffixes can help you decode thousands of new words
- • Root words often come from Latin or Greek and appear in many English words
Important Rules for Word Building
Spelling Changes
Sometimes adding prefixes or suffixes requires spelling changes (e.g., happy → happiness, beauty → beautiful).
Meaning Changes
Prefixes can completely change a word's meaning (e.g., possible → impossible, like → dislike).
Word Class Changes
Suffixes often change a word from one part of speech to another (e.g., quick → quickly, happy → happiness).
Quick Reference
Pro Tip
Learning just 20 common prefixes and suffixes can help you understand thousands of new words!