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Word Parts as Clues

CONCEPTUAL
English›Vocabulary|Ages 5—8|ID: mt_aw0PldeT_L

Use knowledge of common inflections and affixes (-ed, -s, un-, -er) as clues to the meaning of unknown words; understand how the prefix un- changes meaning

Mastery Evidence

  • Recognise that -ed signals past tense (e.g. 'jumped' = already happened)
  • Explain how un- makes a word mean the opposite (e.g. 'unhappy' = not happy)
  • Use word parts to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word

Assessment Prompt

“If [child] sees an unfamiliar word like "unhelpful" or "jumped," can they use the beginning or ending of the word to work out what it means?”

Curriculum Standards4 alignments

L.1.4bCommon Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
L.1.4b

Use frequently occurring affixes as a clue to the meaning of a word.

English Language Arts
L.2.4cCommon Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
L.2.4c

Use a known root word as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word with the same root (e.g., addition, additional).

English Language Arts
L.K.4bCommon Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
L.K.4b

Use the most frequently occurring inflections and affixes (e.g., -ed, -s, re-, un-, pre-, -ful, -less) as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word.

English Language Arts
Eng.App2.Y1.Word.3The national curriculum in England
Prefix un–

How the prefix un– changes the meaning of verbs and adjectives [negation, for example, unkind, or undoing: untie the boat]

English · Key Stage 1

Prerequisites1

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Unlocks2