Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
The teacher asked us to rewrite our essays, which means to write them for the first time.
Corrected: The teacher asked us to rewrite our essays, which means to write them again.
The corrected sentence is: "The teacher asked us to rewrite our essays, which means to write them again.". The original sentence "The teacher asked us to rewrite our essays, which means to write them for the first time." contained an error that needed to be fixed.
2. Fix the sentence:
The submarine flew high above the clouds during the mission.
Corrected: The submarine traveled deep below the ocean surface during the mission.
The corrected sentence is: "The submarine traveled deep below the ocean surface during the mission.". The original sentence "The submarine flew high above the clouds during the mission." contained an error that needed to be fixed.
3. Fix the sentence:
She misunderstood the directions, so she followed them perfectly.
Corrected: She misunderstood the directions, so she made several mistakes on the assignment.
The corrected sentence is: "She misunderstood the directions, so she made several mistakes on the assignment.". The original sentence "She misunderstood the directions, so she followed them perfectly." contained an error that needed to be fixed.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The prefix re- means "again," so to rebuild something means to build it again.
The prefix 're-' means 'again.' Adding it to 'build' creates 'rebuild,' meaning to build again. Other examples: redo, rewrite, replay.
2. Adding the prefix pre- to the word "view" creates preview, which means to see beforehand.
The prefix 'pre-' means 'before.' A 'preview' is something you see before the main event. Other examples: predict, prepare, precaution.
3. The prefix mis- means "wrongly," so to mislead someone is to lead them in the wrong direction.
The prefix 'mis-' means 'wrong.' 'Mislead' means to lead someone incorrectly. Other examples: misread, misspell, misunderstand.
4. A subtitle is a title shown at the bottom of a movie screen, and the prefix sub- means under.
The prefix 'sub-' means 'under' or 'below.' A subtitle appears below the main title. Other examples: submarine, subway, subset.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Explain what the prefix sub- means and give two words that use this prefix. Tell what each word means.
Sample answer: The prefix sub- means "under" or "below." A submarine is a vessel that travels under water. A subway is a train that runs under the ground.
The prefix 'sub-' consistently means 'under' or 'below.' Recognizing it helps decode unfamiliar words like 'subterranean' (underground) or 'substandard' (below standard).
2. How does knowing the meaning of the prefix re- help you figure out unfamiliar words? Give an example.
Sample answer: Knowing that re- means "again" helps me figure out new words. For example, if I see the word "reassemble," I know it means to put something together again.
The prefix 're-' meaning 'again' or 'back' is one of the most common English prefixes. Recognizing it helps readers quickly understand words like revisit, rebuild, reconsider.