Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to the meanings of words

Key Notes :–

Understanding Roots:

• Roots are the base parts of words that carry the core meaning. Greek and Latin roots are often found in English words.
• By identifying these roots, students can infer the meanings of unfamiliar words.

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Common Greek Roots:

• “Geo” (earth): Examples – geography (study of the earth), geology (science of the earth).
• “Bio” (life): Examples – biology (study of living organisms), biography (story of a person’s life).
• “Phone” (sound): Examples – telephone (device for sound transmission), symphony (concert of sounds).

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Common Latin Roots:

• “Spect” (see): Examples – inspect (to look at closely), spectacle (something to be seen).
• “Port” (carry): Examples – transport (to carry across), portable (easy to carry).
• “Chron” (time): Examples – chronological (arranged in time order), synchronize (to occur at the same time).

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Prefixes and Suffixes:

• Prefixes are added to the beginning of a root word and modify its meaning (e.g., “un-” in “unhappy” changes the meaning to not happy).
• Suffixes are added to the end of a root word to alter its form or function (e.g., “-logy” in “biology” denotes the study of).

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Combining Roots:

• Words can have multiple roots combined with prefixes and suffixes (e.g., “telegraph” – “tele” (distant) + “graph” (write) = to write from a distance).

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Practical Application:

• Break down complex words into their Greek or Latin roots to understand their meanings.
• Practice identifying and defining words by examining their roots.

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Activities:

• Create a list of words with Greek or Latin roots and practice breaking them down.
• Use flashcards with roots and their meanings for memorization and review.

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Examples for Practice:

• “Television”: “Tele” (distant) + “vision” (seeing) – A device that allows you to see things from a distance.
• “Microscope”: “Micro” (small) + “scope” (to look at) – An instrument for looking at very small objects.

Let’s practice!