English Language Arts
Grade 4
15 min
Use the prefixes pre-, re-, and mis-
Use the prefixes pre-, re-, and mis-
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define the term 'prefix' and identify the root word in a prefixed word.
Explain the specific meanings of the prefixes pre- (before), re- (again), and mis- (wrongly).
Build new words by correctly adding pre-, re-, or mis- to a given root word.
Determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word by analyzing its prefix and root word.
Use words containing the prefixes pre-, re-, and mis- correctly in their own complex sentences.
Correctly spell words formed with these prefixes, such as 'misspell' and 'reenter'.
Have you ever wanted to *redo* a drawing or *preview* a new video game? 🎮 You're already using secret word codes called prefixes!
In this lesson, you will become a word detective! We will learn about three special prefixes...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PrefixA word part that is added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.In the word 'unhappy', the prefix is 'un-'. It changes the meaning of 'happy' to 'not happy'.
Root WordThe main part of a word that has its own meaning. It's the word that is left after you remove any prefixes or suffixes.In the word 'remake', the root word is 'make'.
pre-A prefix that means 'before' or 'in advance'.A 'preview' is a view of something 'before' everyone else sees it.
re-A prefix that means 'again' or 'back'.To 'reread' a book is to read it 'again'.
mis-A prefix that means 'wrongly', 'badly', or 'incorrectl...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Meaning-Changer Rule
Prefix + Root Word = New Word with a New Meaning
When you add a prefix to the beginning of a root word, you create a completely new word. The prefix gives a clue about the new word's meaning. For example, adding 're-' to 'play' creates 'replay', which means 'to play again'.
The No-Change Spelling Rule
Do not change the spelling of the root word when adding pre-, re-, or mis-.
When you attach these prefixes, the root word keeps its original spelling. This is important for words where letters double up, like 'mis' + 'spell' = 'misspell' (with two s's) or 're' + 'enter' = 'reenter' (with two e's).
The No-Space, No-Hyphen Rule
Attach t...
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Challenging
A student wrote the following sentence: 'I had to pre-write my story because my first draft had too many mistakes.' Which sentence below corrects the student's error?
A.The student's sentence is already correct.
B.I had to miswrite my story because my first draft had too many mistakes.
C.I had to rewrite my story because my first draft had too many mistakes.
D.I had to write my story because my first draft had too many mistakes.
Challenging
In which word is the group of letters 'mis-' NOT a prefix meaning 'wrongly'?
A.Missile
B.Mislead
C.Misfortune
D.Misbehave
Challenging
Read the following paragraph: 'The teacher asked us to preview the chapter before class. I misread the instructions and had to reread the first page. It was a simple misunderstanding, but I had to reorganize my notes.' How many words in the paragraph use the prefixes pre-, re-, or mis-?
A.3
B.4
C.6
D.5
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