Lesson 2: Building Blocks Flashcards
What is a morpheme?
The smallest unit of meaning in a word.
True or False: A morpheme and a syllable are the same thing.
False. A syllable is a sound unit, while a morpheme has meaning.
Which of the following is NOT a morpheme? A) un- B) -ing C) blorp D) happy
C) blorp (It has no meaning).
What are the four types of morphemes?
Base words, root words, prefixes, and suffixes.
True or False: A prefix and a suffix are both types of morphemes.
True. They both add meaning to words.
Fill in the blank: A base word is a word that can __________.
Stand alone and have meaning.
Fill in the blank: A root word is a word part that carries meaning but ______________.
Cannot always stand alone.
What does the root word “port” mean in words like “transport” and “portable”?
To carry.
Which of the following words contains only one morpheme? A) Restart B) Running C) Cat D) Unhappy
C) Cat (It cannot be broken down further).
Break apart the word “mismatched” into its morphemes.
Mis- (wrong) + match (pair) + -ed (past tense).
What does the prefix “pre-“ mean?
Before (e.g., preview = view before).
Identify the prefix in the word “disagree”.
Dis-
True or False: A prefix always comes at the end of a word.
False. A prefix comes at the beginning.
Multiple Choice: Which of these words contains a prefix? A) Teach B) Replay C) Cat D) Strong
B) Replay (Prefix: re- meaning again).
Break down the word “unfinished” into morphemes.
Un- (not) + finish + -ed (past tense).
What does the suffix “-less” mean?
Without (e.g., hopeless = without hope).
Identify the suffix in the word “carefully”.
-ly
Which of these words contains a suffix? A) Jumping B) Rewind C) Submarine D) Happy
A) Jumping (Suffix: -ing meaning happening now).
Fill in the blank: The suffix “-er” can mean ______________.
One who does something (e.g., teacher = one who teaches).
True or False: The suffix “-ed” changes a word to past tense.
True.
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word bright?
Possible answers: Brighten, brightness, brightly.
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word friend?
Possible answers: Friendly, friendship, unfriendly.
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word happy?
Possible answers: Unhappy, happiness, happily.
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word love?
Possible answers: Lovable, lovely, unloved.
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word believe?
Possible answers: Unbelievable, believer, believing.
True or False: A root word and a base word are the same thing.
False. A base word can stand alone, but a root word usually cannot.
True or False: The word “rereading” contains two morphemes.
False. It has three: re- (again) + read + -ing (happening now).
True or False: Every word has at least one morpheme.
True! Every word has meaning, and morphemes are the building blocks of meaning.
Which of the following words is an example of a base word? A) Dislike B) Helpful C) Play D) Uncertain
C) Play (It can stand alone as a word).
Which of the following contains a root word from Latin or Greek? A) Unkind B) Biography C) Played D) Redo
B) Biography (bio- = life, graph- = writing).
Break apart the word “reaction” into morphemes.
Re- (again) + act + -ion (state of).
Break apart the word “preview” into morphemes.
Pre- (before) + view (to see).
Break apart the word “hopeful” into morphemes.
Hope + -ful (full of).
Break apart the word “transportation” into morphemes.
Trans- (across) + port (carry) + -ation (act of).
Fill in the blank: A prefix is a word part that is added to the ______ of a word.
Beginning.
Fill in the blank: A suffix is a word part that is added to the ______ of a word.
End.
Fill in the blank: The suffix “-ness” turns a word into a ________.
Noun (e.g., kind → kindness).
Fill in the blank: The root word “scrib/script” means ________.
To write (describe, inscription).
True or False: A word can have more than one morpheme.
✅ True! Many words have a prefix, a base word, and a suffix (e.g., unhappily = un- + happy + -ly).
True or False: The word “running” has two morphemes.
✅ True. Run (base word) + -ing (present participle).
Multiple Choice: Which of these words has a prefix and a suffix? A) Unhappy B) Teacher C) Rereading D) Strongest
✅ C) Rereading (Re- + read + -ing).
Multiple Choice: Which of the following words contains a root from Latin or Greek? A) Happiness B) Predict C) Careless D) Fastest
✅ B) Predict (Pre- = before, dict = to say).
Break down the word “misinformation” into morphemes.
Mis- (wrong) + inform (to give knowledge) + -ation (act of).
Break down the word “unbelievable” into morphemes.
Un- (not) + believe + -able (capable of).
Fill in the blank: The root word “scrib/script” means ________.
To write (describe, inscription).
Fill in the blank: The suffix “-less” means ________.
Without (hopeless, fearless).
True or False: The word “pretest” has two morphemes.
✅ True. Pre- (before) + test.
Multiple Choice: Which of these base words can have both a prefix and a suffix? A) Teach B) Kind C) Play D) Help
✅ D) Help (Unhelpful, helpful, helpless).
What does the morpheme “bio-“ mean in words like “biology” and “biodegradable”?
Life (biology = study of life).
How does knowing morphemes help with reading and spelling?
✅ It helps you break down longer words, recognize meaning patterns, and spell words correctly by identifying consistent word parts.
