Exploring Root Words
A Grade 4 ELA worksheet focusing on identifying and understanding common root words and their meanings.
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Exploring Root Words
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Read each question carefully and follow the instructions to complete the worksheet. This worksheet will help you understand root words, which are the basic parts of words that carry meaning.
A root word is the most basic part of a word. It carries the main meaning and cannot be broken down into smaller parts. Many English words are built from root words, with prefixes (added to the beginning) and suffixes (added to the end) changing their meaning.
For example, the word 'unbelievable' has the root word 'believe'. 'Un-' is a prefix, and '-able' is a suffix.
1. What is the root word in 'bicycle'?
bi
cycle
cle
bic
2. The root word 'port' means to carry. Which word means 'to carry across'?
report
export
transport
porter
Underline the root word in each of the following words:
3. unhappy
4. pretest
5. readable
6. rewrite
Match each root word on the left with its correct meaning on the right.
7. aud
a. water
8. hydr
b. see
9. vis
c. hear
10. geo
d. earth
11. Choose one of the root words from the matching section above (aud, hydr, vis, or geo). Write a sentence using a word that contains that root word. Underline the word you used.