Year 4 English: Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to the meanings of words

Introduction

Hello, Year 4! Today, we are going to learn about how Greek and Latin roots can help us understand the meanings of words. Words are made up of different parts, and sometimes, these parts come from ancient languages like Greek and Latin. By knowing some of these roots, we can guess what new words mean!

What Are Roots?

What is a Root?

A root is the main part of a word. It often carries the basic meaning. For example, in the word “unhappiness,” the root is “happy.”

Greek and Latin Roots

Many English words come from Greek and Latin. For example:

• The Greek root “bio” means “life.” So, “biology” is the study of life.
• The Latin root “scrib” means “to write.” So, “describe” means to write down something.

How to Use Roots to Understand Words

Steps to Use Roots

1. Identify the Root: Look for the part of the word that gives you a clue about its meaning.
2. Think About the Meaning: Use what you know about that root to guess what the whole word might mean.
3. Check Your Guess: If you can, check the meaning of the word in a dictionary to see if you were right!

Examples

1. Root: “tele” (Greek) – This means “far.”
   • Word: “telephone” – a device to talk to someone far away.
2. Root: “struct” (Latin) – This means “to build.”
   • Word: “construction” – the process of building something.

Key Rules

1. Many Roots Have Common Meanings: Once you learn what a root means, you can use it to understand many different words.
2. Prefixes and Suffixes Change Meanings: Sometimes, roots can have prefixes (at the beginning) or suffixes (at the end) that change their meaning a little.
3. Practice Makes Perfect: The more you practice, the better you’ll get at using roots to understand words.

Tips and Tricks

• Create a Root Chart: Write down Greek and Latin roots you learn and their meanings.
• Look for Clues in Words: When you come across a new word, see if you can spot a root you know.
• Play Word Games: Try games that involve making new words from roots!

Questions

Easy Level (1-20)

1. What does the root “bio” mean?
2. What does the root “graph” mean?
3. What does the root “tele” mean?
4. What does the root “aud” mean?
5. What does the root “ject” mean?
6. What does the root “port” mean?
7. What does the root “scrib” mean?
8. What does the root “therm” mean?
9. What does the root “photo” mean?
10. What does the root “spect” mean?
11. What does the root “cred” mean?
12. What does the root “form” mean?
13. What does the root “man” mean?
14. What does the root “micro” mean?
15. What does the root “max” mean?
16. What does the root “poly” mean?
17. What does the root “uni” mean?
18. What does the root “dynam” mean?
19. What does the root “bio” mean?
20. What does the root “pater” mean?

Medium Level (21-40)

21. What does the word “biography” mean?
22. What does “audience” mean based on the root “aud”?
23. Can you guess the meaning of “television” using the root “tele”?
24. What does “construct” mean?
25. What does “portable” mean?
26. What does “inscribe” mean?
27. What does “thermometer” mean using the root “therm”?
28. What does “photograph” mean?
29. What does “spectator” mean based on the root “spect”?
30. What does “credible” mean using the root “cred”?
31. What does “transform” mean?
32. What does “manipulate” mean based on the root “man”?
33. What does “microorganism” mean using the root “micro”?
34. What does “maximize” mean using the root “max”?
35. What does “polygon” mean using the root “poly”?
36. What does “unicycle” mean using the root “uni”?
37. What does “dynamite” mean based on the root “dynam”?
38. What does “patriarch” mean based on the root “pater”?
39. What does “auditory” mean using the root “aud”?
40. What does “telecommute” mean using the root “tele”?

Hard Level (41-60)

41. What does the word “antibiotic” mean using the root “bio”?
42. What does “geography” mean using the root “graph”?
43. Can you explain what “teleconference” means based on the root “tele”?
44. What does “audible” mean using the root “aud”?
45. What does “projectile” mean based on the root “ject”?
46. What does “import” mean using the root “port”?
47. What does “prescribe” mean using the root “scrib”?
48. What does “endothermic” mean using the root “therm”?
49. What does “photosynthesis” mean using the root “photo”?
50. What does “inspect” mean based on the root “spect”?
51. What does “incredible” mean using the root “cred”?
52. What does “deform” mean using the root “form”?
53. What does “manuscript” mean based on the root “man”?
54. What does “microscope” mean using the root “micro”?
55. What does “maximal” mean using the root “max”?
56. What does “monopoly” mean using the root “poly”?
57. What does “unison” mean using the root “uni”?
58. What does “dynamics” mean based on the root “dynam”?
59. What does “patron” mean using the root “pater”?
60. What does “audition” mean using the root “aud”?

Answers and Explanations

Easy Level Answers

1. Life
2. Write
3. Far
4. Hear
5. Throw
6. Carry
7. Write
8. Heat
9. Light
10. Look
11. Believe
12. Shape
13. Hand
14. Small
15. Greatest
16. Many
17. One
18. Power
19. Life
20. Father

Medium Level Answers

21. A life story
22. The people who listen
23. A device to see far away
24. To build together
25. Able to be carried
26. To write in
27. A tool to measure heat
28. A picture made with light
29. A person who watches
30. Able to be believed
31. To change form
32. To handle skillfully
33. A small living thing
34. To make the most
35. A many-sided shape
36. One wheel
37. Powerful explosive
38. A father figure
39. Related to hearing
40. To work from a distance

Hard Level Answers

41. A substance against life (germs)
42. The study of the earth
43. A meeting from far away
44. Able to be heard
45. A thing that is thrown
46. To carry in
47. To write a prescription
48. Producing heat from inside
49. Putting together light
50. To look into
51. Not able to be believed
52. To change shape
53. A written document
54. A tool to see small things
55. The greatest amount
56. A single seller
57. Singing together
58. Study of forces
59. A supporter or customer
60. A test of hearing

Now you have all the tools to start using Greek and Latin roots to understand more words! Happy learning!