Grade 4 Word Study Worksheets
Long words aren't scary: they're built from pieces. Learn the pieces and you can take any word apart.
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What your child will learn: Prefixes, Suffixes & Compounds
- The base word is the main part. A prefix goes on the front and a suffix goes on the end.
- Prefixes change the meaning: un- (not), re- (again), pre- (before), dis- (not), mis- (wrongly).
- Suffixes change the job: -ing, -ed, -ful (full of), -less (without), -ly (in that way), -er (one who).
- A compound word is two whole words joined together: rain + bow = rainbow, foot + ball = football.
- Spelling tip when adding a suffix: hop → hopping (double the consonant), but hope → hoping (drop the silent e).
Sample worksheet questions
1. What is a suffix?
Answer: A word part added to the end of a base word
2. Break 'careless' into its parts.
Answer: care + less
3. What is a prefix?
Answer: A word part added to the front of a base word
4. Add -ing to 'hope'. How do you spell it?
Answer: hoping (drop the e)
5. What does the suffix '-ful' mean?
Answer: Full of
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Try it at home
🧩 Word Surgery: Write a long word like 'unhelpful' and cut it into prefix, base and suffix with scissors. Rebuild it a different way!
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