BUILDING WORD

POWER
Unit I

In this module you will

be able to build new
words and derivatives

Use Synonyms &

Antonyms

Explore context clues &

other ways to increase
word power

Affix
Attached to the root to form new words

PREFIX (before)
IM (not) POLITE

IMPOLITE
DIS (AWAY) APPEARANCE

DISAPPEARANCE
More Prefixes = More Vocabulary

Number Prefixes
uni
mono

uniform
monologue

bi
tri

biweekly
triangle;
triplet

quart

quartet

Recognizing Prefixes
Prefix

Meaning

Examples

Extra

Outside

extracurricular

Intra

Within

Intramural

Inter

Among

Interschool

Mal

Bad

Maltreat

Multi

Many

Multimillionaire

Pre

Before

Preview

Post

After

postgraduate

Prefixes with More Than One Meaning

Prefix

Meaning

Examples

dis

Opposite of
Deprive of
away

disrespect
disrobe
disappear

trans

Across
beyond

transcontinental
transcendental

Now work!
Trying Out Prefixes

Suffix
Attached after the root to form new words

Study (verb)
Student (noun)
Studious (adjective)

Identifying Suffixes

Suffix

Meaning

Part of
Speech

Word

-ate

to become

Verb

Vaccinate
Salivate

noun

Enjoyment
Firmness
Reduction

-ment
act of, state of
-ness
-tion, -sion
-able

characterized by, Adjective

full of

Adorable
Sensible

-less

Without

senseless

Adjective

ANTONYMS and SYNONYMS

You know this already so get to work.

BUILDING WORD
POWER
Unit II

words have positive or negative associations

Skinny
Bony
(Negative)

Thin
(neutral)

Slim
Slender
(Positive)

on a piece of paper
Negative

Neutral

Positive

eat, devour, dine

Smell, stench, fragrance
old, mature, senile
firm, pig-headed, unyielding
black man, negro, nigger
live, dwell, squat
free, idle, unengaged

Filthy rich, well-to-do. prosperous

words can have DENOTATIVE and CONNOTATIVE meanings

DENOTATIVE is the basic dictionary meaning of
a word.
Mother denotes a female parent.

CONNOTATIVE is the implied or suggested

meanings of a word. Mother denotes a female
parent.
Connotatively, MOTHER can mean
love, care, affection, or self-sacrifice.

WAR
denotes an armed conflict between two factions or
countries
connotes anxieties, fears, killings,
brutalities, and destruction.

CONCRETE WORDS
can be perceived by the senses; like a
GREEN MAT, a CRUNCHY CRACKER,
HOT PEPPER, or FLORAL SCENT.

ABSTRACT WORDS
refer to concepts, ideas, beliefs, &
qualities
examples are TRUTH, CHILDHOOD,
SUPERSTITION & REVOLUTION
abstract words cannot be perceived by the
senses

ABSTRACT

They came to the city in search of a better life.

CONCRETE

The barrio folk came to the city to earn a living, to

put a roof over their heads, and to feed their
children.
ABSTRACT

Dryness characterized the plain.

CONCRETE

The once green grassy plain has turned brown,

and cracks with every step.

GENERAL
An old man is walking slowly down the street.
SPECIFIC
A doddering beggar dragged himself down
Diversion Road.

Your last activity on BUILDING WORD POWER

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