Spelling words with the prefixes bi-, trans-, tele- and circum- | English

Starter quiz

What does the prefix re- usually mean? An example word is 're-write'.
- under or nearly
- again ✓
- above
- the opposite or undo
What does the prefix super- usually mean? An example word is 'supermarket'.
- above ✓
- again
- under or nearly
- the opposite or undo
Match these prefixes to their meaning.
- sub-
  
  ⇔
  
  under or nearly ✓
- de-
  
  ⇔
  
  make the opposite or undo ✓
- inter-
  
  ⇔
  
  between ✓
- anti-
  
  ⇔
  
  against ✓
What is the meaning of the prefix multi- in the words multicultural, multipurpose and multicoloured.
- some
- few
- all
- many ✓
Match the word to its meaning.
- transparent
  
  ⇔
  
  clear, see-through ✓
- telephone
  
  ⇔
  
  a device for talking to others far away ✓
- circumference
  
  ⇔
  
  the distance around a circle ✓
Match the word to its meaning.
- bicycle
  
  ⇔
  
  a two-wheeled vehicle ✓
- redo
  
  ⇔
  
  to do again or differently ✓
- illogical
  
  ⇔
  
  not sensible ✓

Exit quiz

Select the prefixes.
- abc
- super- ✓
- -ing
- auto- ✓
Match the prefix to its meaning.
- mis-
  
  ⇔
  
  wrongly ✓
- anti-
  
  ⇔
  
  against ✓
- dis-
  
  ⇔
  
  not ✓
Create new words by matching the prefix to the root word.
- im-
  
  ⇔
  
  perfect ✓
- mis-
  
  ⇔
  
  fortune ✓
- anti-
  
  ⇔
  
  social ✓
Select the correct spelling of the word.
- bicacle
- bicycle ✓
- bycycle
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. I love watching telavishun.
- 'television' ✓
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. I have eaten inuff sweets for a whole year.
- 'enough' ✓

Worksheet

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

A prefix is a letter or group of letters at the start of a word which changes its meaning.
The prefix bi- means ‘two’ and the prefix trans- means ‘across’.
The prefix tele- means ‘distant’ and the prefix circum- means ‘around’.
Recognising prefixes can help us understand a word’s meaning and help us to spell it.
How to spell the curriculum words: bicycle, naughty and enough.

Common misconception

Pupils may think that all words with prefixes must have a recgonisable root word.

Look at some words with the focus prefixes that do not have a recognisable root word. Discuss how the meaning of the prefix can still support children with understanding the meaning of the word, e.g. translate or transmit.

Keywords

Prefix - a letter or group of letters added to the start of a root word to change its meaning
Root word - the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes
Antonym - a word that has the opposite meaning to another word