📖 ReadingGrade 4Lesson 1
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Use Greek and Latin Roots

How to use: Download the PDF to print the worksheet. Then use this page to repeat activities and check answers.

Learning Objectives

  • 1Identify common Greek and Latin roots in unfamiliar words
  • 2Use root meanings to work out the meaning of new vocabulary
  • 3Build words by combining roots with prefixes and suffixes
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Mini Lesson

Many English words come from Greek and Latin roots. A root is the core part of a word that carries its basic meaning. When you know a root, you can often work out the meaning of many new words.

Common Greek Roots

  • graph (write) — biography, photograph, autograph
  • phon (sound) — telephone, microphone, symphony
  • bio (life) — biology, biography, antibiotic
  • geo (earth) — geography, geology, geometry
  • tele (far) — television, telescope, telephone

Common Latin Roots

  • port (carry) — transport, import, export, portable
  • dict (say/tell) — dictionary, predict, verdict
  • rupt (break) — interrupt, erupt, disrupt
  • scrib/script (write) — describe, manuscript, inscription
  • aud (hear) — audience, auditorium, audible
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When you spot a root you know, cover the prefix and suffix. The root in the middle often gives you the key meaning.

Root Word TreeRoot Word Tree: PORT (carry)PORTtransportportableimportOne root — many words!
Word Parts MapWord Parts MapPrefixchanges meaningRootcore meaningSuffixchanges word type
Vocabulary
root
The base part of a word that carries its main meaning.e.g. The root "port" means carry, as in transport.
prefix
A word part added to the beginning of a root that changes its meaning.e.g. The prefix "un-" in "unhappy" means not.
suffix
A word part added to the end of a root that changes its meaning or word class.e.g. Adding "-ful" to "care" makes "careful".
Greek root
A word part borrowed from ancient Greek.e.g. "Bio" is a Greek root meaning life, as in biology.
Latin root
A word part borrowed from Latin.e.g. "Aqua" is a Latin root meaning water, as in aquarium.
word origin
The language a word came from.e.g. "Telephone" comes from Greek roots tele and phone.
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Guided Practice

Read the story. Notice the words with Greek and Latin roots — how does knowing the root help you understand each word?

Mini-book

The Word Detective

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Cover

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Exercises

Use the root meaning given to complete each word.

1
The root graph means "write." A person who writes your life story writes a graphy.
2
The root phon means "sound." A device that carries sound to your ear is a tele.
3
The root port means "carry." Something easy to carry is able.
4
The root aud means "hear." People who listen to a performance are called an ience.
5
The root rupt means "break." When a volcano suddenly breaks open, it es.
6
The root dict means "say." A book that tells you what words mean is a ionary.
7
The root bio means "life." The science of living things is called logy.
8
The root geo means "earth." The study of the earth's surface is called graphy.

Match each Greek or Latin root to its meaning.

Pick the best answer.

1. What is a root in a word?

2. The root "phon" appears in all of the following EXCEPT:

3. What does the Latin root "port" mean?

4. Using the root "aud" (hear), what does "audible" mean?

5. Which word contains the Greek root "geo" (earth)?

6. What does the root "rupt" mean in the word "interrupt"?

7. Which word is built from the root "dict" (say/tell)?

8. How does knowing a root help you as a reader?

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Assessment

Parent / Teacher Checklist

Lesson 2 →