Ms. Ciccarello’s ELA Greek & Latin Roots Study Guide

Greek & Latin Roots Study Guide

Everything on this study guide is a mirror image of what we have been doing in class. Please review all of ELA class notes beginning on December 4th. You will find that everything on this study guide is symmetrical to the class notes.

Objective: Find the meaning of the unknown words and phrases using context clues.

Common Core Focus: L.8.4

The more you read the more likely you are to see words you do not know. You can sometimes figure out the definitions of unfamiliar words by looking at the surrounding text (above & below sentences) for clues. This is known as using context clues. Another strategy is by looking for a comma after the unfamiliar words (definition).

STUDY THE FOLLOWING:

CONTEXT CLUES: STRATEGIES: DEFINITION: To figure out the definitions of 1. Look at the surrounding text (above & below unfamiliar words. sentences) for clues. 2. Look for a comma after the unfamiliar word. After the comma the author usually includes the definition of the word. 3. Look for other words in the same sentence that might have a similar meaning. 4. Examine the word against another word it describes or is connected to.

EXAMPLE: EXPLINATION:  “…clandestine actions undertaken by my Notice the comma, the word secret helps you family, a secret known only to them.” understand the meaning of clandestine.  “…give assurance that I was The word assurance is connected to the meaning trustworthy.” of trustworthy.

English words are formed by taking basic words and adding combinations of prefixes and suffixes to them.

Example 1: The word “Biology”

BIO-LOGY

BIO- comes from a Greek word meaning living.

OGY- is a suffix that means the study of.

Together we can decipher the word meaning that biology means the study of living things. Ms. Ciccarello’s ELA Greek & Latin Roots Study Guide

Example 2: The word “Antibiotics”

ANTI-BIO-TICS

ANTI- comes from a Greek word meaning against, opposing, or without.

BIO- comes from a Greek word meaning living.

Together we can decipher the word meaning that antibiotics mean to go against any living thing.

PARTS OF A WORD

ROOT: PREFIX: SUFFIX:  Basic English word  Beginning of a word  End of a word such as has no prefix or suffix such as: un, or, anti –able, -tion, Value Example with a prefix de- Devalue Definition to de- opposite, removal, without Afford Example with a suffix –able Affordable Definition to –able: is, capable to

As a class we worked on Prefixes on December 5th. As per my homework assignment students were to find the meaning of each prefix and write it alongside the prefix column in their notebook. It was reviewed in class.

On December 11th we reviewed what a suffix is, and wrote down common suffixes that are used. As per my homework assignment students were to find the meaning of each suffix and write it alongside the prefix column in their notebook. It was reviewed in class.

Suffix (also called ending) a letter or group of letters added to the end of the word to change its meaning.

The following Greek & Latin prefixes and suffixes will be on January 18th Test. This chart was on my board to be copied down by the students. As per my homework assignment aligned to this, students were to make flashcards before the Christmas break and study these flashcards every night till the date of the test. Ms. Ciccarello’s ELA Greek & Latin Roots Study Guide

GREEK ROOT LATIN Followed by the definition Followed by the definition  anti: opposite, against  en, em: to cause to be/ to put into or onto/ to go into or onto  di/dia: two/through  de: reduce down/away across from  auto: self  Trans: across/change/through  bio: life  in-(il-,im-,ir-): not  micro: small/minute  mini: small  arch: chief, ruler  uni: one/single  geo: earth, ground, soil  -ity: state of, quality of  nym/onym: name, word  -al,- ial: related Example: Synonymy, to/characterized by Antonym  phon: voice, sound  -ion, -ation, -sion, -tion: act of/ state of/ result of  therm- heat  -ent, -ant: an Example: Thermal Shirt action/condition  scope: to watch, see  aqua: water  act: put in motion/process of doing  mit: to send  anni, annu, enni: year  duct, duc: to lead  man: hand Example: Manicure  tox: poison Example: Toxic

BOTH GREEK & LATIN ROOTS:  ex: out of/ away from  pro: forward/before/ in support of