Unlocking Words: Understanding Morphemes
A Grade 5 ELA worksheet on identifying and understanding prefixes, suffixes, and root words to build vocabulary.
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Unlocking Words: Understanding Morphemes
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Read each question carefully and follow the instructions to demonstrate your understanding of morphemes.
Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning in a language. They can be whole words or parts of words. There are three main types of morphemes: root words, prefixes, and suffixes. A root word is the basic part of a word that carries the main meaning. Prefixes are added to the beginning of a root word to change its meaning. Suffixes are added to the end of a root word to change its meaning or its grammatical function. Understanding morphemes can help you figure out the meaning of new words and expand your vocabulary.
1. What is the smallest unit of meaning in a language?
A letter
A sentence
A morpheme
A paragraph
2. What is a prefix?
A word added to the end of a root word
A word added to the beginning of a root word
The main part of a word
A type of punctuation
3. The basic part of a word that carries the main meaning is called a .
4. Suffixes are added to the of a root word.
Match each example with the correct morpheme type.
5. -able
a. Root Word
6. un-
b. Prefix
7. happy
c. Suffix
8. Explain how understanding morphemes can help you understand new words.