3rd grade · English Language Arts · Unit 6 of 13
Prefixes & Suffixes
Word parts that change meaning
What your child practices
Learning what prefixes (un-, re-, pre-, dis-) and suffixes (-ful, -less, -er, -ly) mean, finding base words and using new words in sentences.
Maine Learning Results learning standard: Reading 3; Language 4 · using prefixes and suffixes to read and understand words
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- A prefix goes at the start of a word: un- and dis- mean not, re- means again, pre- means before.
- A suffix goes at the end: -ful means full of, -less means without, -er means one who.
- Cover the prefix and suffix to find the base word.
Example: What is the base word in “carefully”? Take off the suffix -ly: careful. Take off the suffix -ful: care. Answer: care
Prefixes & Suffixes in Maine
In the Maine Learning Results, this is unit 6 of 13 in 3rd grade English Language Arts, after Spelling Patterns and before Word Pairs.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
- 3rd grade guide for Maine parents
- Printable 3rd grade English Language Arts sheet
- Maine report cards explained
Source: Maine Department of Education
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
What is the base word in “unkindly”?
unkindly
- kind
- unkind
- kindly
kind
Hint: Take off the prefix and the suffix. The word left in the middle is the base word: unkindly → kind.
Question 2
What does “teacher” mean?
teacher
- a person who teaches
- does not teach
- teaches again
a person who teaches
Hint: The suffix -er can mean a person who does something. So “teacher” means “a person who teaches.”
Question 3
Which word means “a person who plays”?
- replay
- player
- playful
player
Hint: Look at the word parts. The suffix -er can mean a person who does something. So “player” means “a person who plays.”
Question 4
What does “disagree” mean?
disagree
- agree again
- not agree
- agree before
not agree
Hint: The prefix dis- means not, or the opposite of. So “disagree” means “not agree.”
Question 5
What does the prefix “dis-” mean in “dislike”?
- again
- not
- before
not
Hint: If you dislike something, you do not like it.
Question 6
Which word means “not kind”?
- kindly
- unkind
- kinder
unkind
Hint: Look at the word parts. The prefix un- means not. So “unkind” means “not kind.”