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Primary English · Year 6Chapter 4 · The statutory word list, part 2, roots and prefixes
Year 6 English · The statutory word list, part 2, roots and prefixes · Lesson 4.6

Year 6 English: Roots, word families and the dictionary

Part of the Year 6 English the statutory word list, part 2, roots and prefixes chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

4.6

Roots, word families and the dictionary

Year 6
Use the root of a word, and its family, to read and spell a new word (Y5-6 spelling), Use a dictionary to check the spelling, meaning, pronunciation and origin of a word (Y5-6 spelling)
Story. Sam is reading about the history of a museum. He finds the word spectator in a book and does not know what it means, so he looks at its root, and then checks the word in a dictionary.

A root is the part of a word that carries its main meaning. The root port means carry, so transport means to carry people or goods from one place to another. Words with the same root form a word family.

A dictionary gives the spelling, the meaning, the pronunciation and, sometimes, the origin of a word. Use the entry to check each part before you use the word.

Roots and their families

RootMeaning of the rootWordMeaning of the word
portcarrytransportto carry people or goods from one place to another
portcarryportableable to be carried easily
spectlook or seeinspectto look at something closely
spectlook or seespectatora person who watches an event
graphwrite or drawautographa person's own signature
graphwrite or drawphotographa picture made with light
audhearaudibleable to be heard
audhearaudiencepeople who listen or watch
telefar awaytelephonea device for speaking to someone far away
telefar awaytelevisiona device that shows pictures from far away

Three steps for an unknown word

1Find the root, and say what it means.

2Use the root meaning and any prefix or suffix to work out the meaning.

3Check the spelling, meaning and pronunciation in a dictionary.

Key ideas

  • A root carries the main meaning of a word.
  • Words in the same family share a root.
  • A dictionary entry checks the spelling, meaning, pronunciation and origin.
Worked example 4.6.1
The root spect means look or see. What does inspect mean?

Method. Use the root meaning, then add the prefix in-.

  1. Find the root meaning. The root spect means look or see.
    look or see
  2. Add the prefix. In- means into, so inspect means to look into or at something closely.
    look closely
  3. Write the meaning. Inspect means to look at something closely.
    to look at something closely
  4. Write the answer.
    to look at something closely

Check. inspect has the root spect. ✓

Worked example 4.6.2
The root port means carry. What does portable mean?

Method. Use the root meaning, then the ending -able.

  1. Find the root meaning. The root port means carry.
    carry
  2. Add the ending. Portable means able to be carried, from port plus -able.
    port + able
  3. Write the meaning. Portable means able to be carried easily.
    able to be carried easily
  4. Write the answer.
    able to be carried easily

Check. portable has the root port. ✓

Worked example 4.6.3
Use a dictionary entry: telephone (noun): a device for speaking to someone far away. Which root does it contain?

Method. Look at the start of the word.

  1. Look at the start. Telephone begins with tele.
    tele
  2. Check the meaning. Tele means far away, so the word is about speaking far away.
    far away
  3. Write the root. The root is tele.
    tele
  4. Write the answer.
    tele

Check. telephone has the root tele. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a root does not always show the whole meaning of a word. Check the dictionary when the meaning is unclear.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Choose one root from this section, such as aud (hear), and ask your child to find two other words with the same root.

Exercise 4F  Practice: roots, families and the dictionary

1
FThe root port means carry. Which word from this family means: to carry people or goods from one place to another? Write the word.
2
FThe root port means carry. Which word from this family means: able to be carried easily? Write the word.
3
FThe root spect means look or see. Which word from this family means: to look at something closely? Write the word.
4
FThe root spect means look or see. Which word from this family means: a person who watches an event? Write the word.
5
FThe root graph means write or draw. Which word from this family means: a person's own signature? Write the word.
6
FThe root graph means write or draw. Which word from this family means: a picture made with light? Write the word.
7
PSThe root aud means hear. Which word means able to be heard? Write the word only.
8
RThe root graph means write or draw. What does autograph mean?
9
RUse the root spect to explain what a spectator is, in one sentence.
10
RLook at the dictionary entry: pronunciation (noun): the way a word is said. What does the entry tell you about the word?
11
RName three things a dictionary entry can check for you, about a word.
12
PSWrite the word made from the root tele, which means far away, and that is a device that shows pictures. Write the word only.
13
FWrite the root word of transport, and say what it means. Write the root word only.
14
FWrite the word from the root spect, which means to look at something closely. Write the word only.
15
RExplain in one or two sentences how the root port helps you work out the meaning of portable.
16
FWrite the word made from the root aud, which means people who listen or watch. Write the word only.

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