Prefixes
This prefix means NOT. Adding it to the word 'possible' makes a new word. What is the prefix, and what is the new word?
im- → impossible
The suffix -ist means A PERSON WHO. What do you call a person who creates art?
artist
The root graph means TO WRITE or RECORD. What do you call a signed message from a famous person?
autograph
The suffix -meter means A TOOL THAT MEASURES. What tool measures temperature?
thermometer
The prefix equi- means EQUAL. A triangle with all equal sides is called what?
Equilateral
-Meter means a measuring tool. What would a photometer measure? Use what you know about 'photo' to explain.
A photometer measures light
The root vis means TO SEE. Something you can see with your eyes is described as what?
visible
Break the word 'nonfiction' into its parts. What does each part mean?
non- (not) + fiction (made up) = writing that is not made up / true stories
Mid- means MIDDLE. What is the word for the middle point of a line segment?
Midpoint
Your friend says -ness can only be added to adjectives. Give TWO examples that prove them right.
boldness (bold), sadness (sad), fairness (fair), greatness (great)
Graph means to write or record. Name THREE different graph words and explain what is being recorded or written in each.
paragraph (written beside), autograph (written by self), photograph (recorded by light)
The prefix co- means TOGETHER or WITH. If you write a book with a partner, what is your partner called?
co-author
Mono- means ONE and uni- also means ONE. Write one word for each prefix and explain how you know both mean one.
mono- → monologue (one person talking), uni- → unicorn (one horn)
Compare -ist and -ory. One names a person and one names a place or describes something. Write one word for each suffix and explain how you know which meaning fits.
-ist → journalist (a person), -ory → laboratory (a place)
Fract means to break. Explain how 'fraction' connects to the idea of breaking. Use a math example in your answer.
A fraction breaks a whole number into equal parts — like breaking a pizza into 4 pieces (fourths)
Pre-, mid-, and post- describe time. Put them in order on a timeline and give a real example word for each.
pre- (before/preview), mid- (middle/midterm), post- (after/postgame)
Your friend says 'bilateral means having two sides.' Use what you know about bi- to explain whether your friend is correct. Then name one more bi- word and define it.
Correct — bi = two, lateral = sides
Your friend built the word 'unhappiness.' It uses a prefix AND -ness. Try the same thing — build a word using any prefix from our list + any base word + -ness. Explain each part.
im + perfect + -ness = imperfectness (the state of not being perfect)
Pare means to set beside or make ready. Use this to explain the difference between 'compare' and 'prepare.' What is each word literally doing?
compare = set things beside each other (com + pare); prepare = make ready before (pre + pare)
You see the word 'thermograph' for the first time. Use therm and graph to figure out what it does, then explain whether it would be a person, a place, or a tool and how do you know.
therm (heat) + graph (record) = a tool that records heat over time — it's a tool, not a person, because there's no -ist