Lecture on Word Parts

Overview

• Word parts are fundamental components of words.
• There are three major types of word parts:
  1. Root
  2. Prefix
  3. Suffix

1. Roots

• Roots have specific meanings and can be positioned at the beginning, middle, or end of a word.
• Derived from Latin or Greek.
• Common in academic vocabulary.
• Examples:
  • Bio: means "life" (e.g., Biology = study of life)
  • Biblio: means "book" (e.g., Bibliography)
  • Ling: means "language" (e.g., Linguistics = study of languages)

2. Prefixes

• Added to the beginning of a word.
• Change the meaning of the original word.
• Examples:
  • Micro-: means "very small" (e.g., Microbiology = study of very small living organisms)
  • Un-: means "not" (e.g., Unhappy = not happy)
  • Il-: means "not" (e.g., Illegal = not legal)

3. Suffixes

• Added to the end of a word.
• Modify the word form or part of speech.
• Examples:
  • -er: implies "a person who" (e.g., Teacher = one who teaches)
    • Changes a verb to a noun.
  • -less: implies "without" (e.g., Careless = without care)
    • Changes a noun to an adjective.
  • -ize: used to form verbs (e.g., Finalize = to make final)
    • Changes an adjective to a verb.

Importance

• Understanding word parts helps in accurately predicting the meaning of unfamiliar words.
• Knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes enhances vocabulary and comprehension skills.