Vocabulary Development: The Root

The English language has developed over time by absorbing words from other languages. Although it is considered a Germanic language, it contains an abundance of words derived from Latin, Greek, and French, as well as from other languages. Word origins become especially important when you are faced with a word that you do not understand. If you can recognize even a small part of it (like the beginning or the ending), you have a better chance of figuring out what it means. As a result, the first step in developing a larger and better vocabulary is to learn about the small parts that make up words: the prefixes, the suffixes, and the root words. Improving your vocabulary helps you improve your reading comprehension, which helps you improve your standardized test scores. Improving your vocabulary also helps you become a better writer. Take a look at the lists below for meanings and examples of prefixes and suffixes. The root is the base of the word to which a prefix and/or a suffix may be added. Each prefix or suffix changes the meaning of the word slightly. For example, the word "active" refers to one who is frequently on the go. If we add the prefix "hyper-," we create the word "hyperactive," which refers to one who is overly active. If we add the suffix "-ity," we create the word "hyperactivity," which is the state or the condition of being hyperactive. (In other words, we have changed the way in which the word is used in the sentence. "Hyperactive" is an adjective, while "hyperactivity" is a noun.)