So far in spelling we have been listening for vowel sounds and learning the different ways to spell them (such as 4 ways to spell the long a sound). However another trick to help with spelling is looking for word parts that have meaning.
A prefix is a word part that comes at the beginning of the word that has its own meaning.
The root words actually have the opposite meaning as the words that are created by adding a prefix! Fiction is the opposite of nonfiction. Stop is the opposite of nonstop. Toxic is the opposite of nontoxic. This is because the prefix non means "not."
A prefix is a word part that comes at the beginning of the word that has its own meaning.
The root words actually have the opposite meaning as the words that are created by adding a prefix! Fiction is the opposite of nonfiction. Stop is the opposite of nonstop. Toxic is the opposite of nontoxic. This is because the prefix non means "not."
Some prefixes that mean "not" are:
- non
- un
- dis
Notice that "mis" is different from "miss!" Prefixes are word parts; they aren't words on their own even though they may look or sound close to other words.
Can you think of a word with a prefix? Write it in the comments below and if you can, tell what it means.
Can you think of a word with a prefix? Write it in the comments below and if you can, tell what it means.