Root Word: Lesson 3

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

In the video you just watched, you noticed that words change to form new words; over time, the words evolve and change, yet a piece of the word — the root — tends to stay intact.

The use of the tree in the video to show how words use the same root creates a metaphor. Discuss with your teacher this metaphor for explaining the evolution of language.

In the last two lessons (Root Word Lessons 1 and 2), you were introduced to Latin roots. You have explored the meanings of a few roots. In this lesson, you will explore more roots and meanings.

Sometimes a prefix is added before a root word that cannot stand alone.

Now look at the word "predict."

If you take away the prefix "pre," what is left? "dict."

Is "dict" a word? No, it is a Latin root word.

Remember that prefixes are also added to a word part called a root. A Latin root is a part of a word that has meaning but it usually has a prefix or suffix with it.

The Latin root "dict" means speak. The prefix "pre" means before. So, if you combine "pre" and "dict," what does predict mean? Yes, predict means to speak before something happens.