Prefixes and Suffixes — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. What does the suffix -able mean in the word "readable"?
A) without
B) full of
C) able to be
D) state of
The suffix -able means "able to be." Readable means a book is able to be read easily without confusion.
2. Which word means "one who swims"?
A) swimming
B) swimable
C) swimmer
D) unswim
The suffix -er means "one who." A swimmer is a person who swims, just like a runner is one who runs.
3. What does the word "preboard" mean?
A) board again
B) not board
C) board wrongly
D) board before others
The prefix pre- means "before." Preboard means to get on the plane before the other passengers do.
4. Which suffix changes the adjective "soft" into an adverb?
A) -ness
B) -er
C) -ly
D) -less
Adding -ly to an adjective makes it an adverb. Softly tells how something is done, like "she spoke softly."
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. The word "mistreat" means to treat someone wrongly.
The prefix mis- means "wrongly." Mistreat means to treat someone badly or in a wrong, unkind way.
2. A chair that can be folded is foldable.
The suffix -able means "can be." A foldable chair is one you can fold flat to store it easily.
3. The tastiest cake at the contest won first place.
The suffix -est means "the most." Tastiest means the cake tasted better than every other cake at the contest.
4. Adding -er to "climb" gives us the word climber.
The suffix -er means "one who." A climber is a person who climbs, like someone who hikes up mountains.
5. The prefix in the word "preschool" is pre.
Pre- means "before." Preschool is the school that comes before regular school, for younger children.