Use words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots

key Notes :

Understanding Roots:

Explain that many English words come from Greek and Latin roots. A root is the base part of a word that carries its main meaning.

---

Common Roots:

Introduce common Greek and Latin roots, such as:

• “bio” (life) – as in “biology” (study of life) or “biography” (story of someone’s life).
• “geo” (earth) – as in “geography” (study of the earth) or “geology” (study of the earth’s structure).
• “tele” (far) – as in “telephone” (device to talk far away) or “television” (device to see far away).

---

Word Parts:

Break words into their root parts and affixes (prefixes and suffixes). For instance:

• “unhappy” – “un-“ (not) + “happy” (joyful) = not happy.
• “disagree” – “dis-“ (opposite of) + “agree” (to consent) = to not agree.

---

Using Words as Clues

1. Identify the Root:
   • Break down the word into its base parts. For example, in the word transport, “trans” (across) and “port” (carry) are the roots.
2. Analyze the Meaning:
   • Combine the meanings of the roots to understand the word. Transport means to carry something across a distance.

---

Context Clues:

Use the context in which a word is used to infer its meaning. For example, if a text talks about a “teleconference,” the root “tele” and the context of a meeting suggest it involves communication over long distances.

Let’s practice!