Affixes: Prefixes and Suffixes
A Grade 4 ELA worksheet focusing on understanding and identifying prefixes and suffixes, and how they change word meanings.
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Affixes: Prefixes and Suffixes
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Read each question carefully and follow the instructions. This worksheet will help you understand how prefixes and suffixes change the meaning of words.
An affix is a word part added to the beginning or end of a word to change its meaning. Prefixes are added to the beginning, and suffixes are added to the end.
Prefixes (before the root word)
Examples:
- un- (not, opposite of) → unhappy (not happy)
- re- (again) → rewrite (write again)
- pre- (before) → pretest (test before)
Suffixes (after the root word)
Examples:
- -ful (full of) → joyful (full of joy)
- -less (without) → fearless (without fear)
- -er (one who, more) → teacher (one who teaches), faster (more fast)
Read each word. Underline the prefix or suffix and write whether it is a prefix or a suffix on the blank.
1. redo:
2. careful:
3. unlock:
4. helpful:
5. dislike:
Choose the best meaning for the word with the given prefix.
6. What does the word 'preheat' mean?
heat again
heat before
not hot
overheat
7. What does the word 'unhappy' mean?
very happy
happy again
not happy
happy before
Read each sentence. Explain the meaning of the underlined word, focusing on how the suffix changes the root word.
8. The _sleepless_ night made me very tired.
9. My little brother is very _playful_.
Match each affix on the left with its correct meaning on the right.
10. dis-
a. full of
11. -able
b. not, opposite of
12. -ful
c. able to be
13. re-
d. again
Use the prefixes and suffixes from the word bank to create new words with the given root words. Write the new word and its meaning.
14. Root word: _tie_
New word:
Meaning:
15. Root word: _wash_
New word:
Meaning: