Learn›Word KnowledgeWK›Word parts
Word parts
Most long English words are built from Latin and Greek pieces. Learn a few dozen of those pieces and you can work out the meaning of hundreds of words you have never studied, which is exactly what you need when a word on the test is new to you.
Take the word apart
- inaudible
- in- + aud + -ible
- not + hear + able to be
- not able to be heard
A prefix comes at the front and changes the meaning (in- = not). The root carries the core idea (aud = hear). A suffix at the end often tells you the kind of word (-ible = able to be). Put the pieces together and the meaning appears.
A clue, not a guarantee
Word parts point you in the right direction and help you eliminate choices. A few words have drifted from their parts, so use the parts together with the sentence when there is one.
How to solve them
-
1
Prefixes worth knowing
A small set of prefixes appears in a huge number of words.
un-, in-, im-, dis-notunable, invisible, impossible, dishonestre-again, backrebuild, returnpre-beforepreview, predictmis-wronglymislead, misspellbene- / mal-good / badbenefit / malfunctiontrans-acrosstransport, transferNext step: RootsPredictpre- (before) + dict (say)
to say before it happens
Malfunctionmal- (bad) + function
to work badly
-
2
Roots that unlock many words
Roots are the core. Learn each one with two or three example words you already know.
audhearaudio, audiencespectlookinspect, spectatorportcarryportable, exportdictsaydictionary, contradictchrontimechronic, chronologicalvol / benewish / goodvolunteer, benevolentNext step: SuffixesChronologicalchron = time
in time order
Benevolentbene (good) + vol (wish)
wishing good: kind
-
3
Suffixes tell you the kind of word
The end of a word often says whether it names a thing, describes something, or names an action.
-able, -iblecan bereadable, visible-less / -fulwithout / full ofcareless / careful-ologystudy ofbiology, geology-ist, -era person whoartist, teacherNext step: Step by stepFearlessfear + -less
without fear
Audibleaud + -ible
able to be heard
-
4
Working out a new word, step by step
Find any part you recognize, give each part its meaning, then read the meanings in order and turn them into normal English.
Next step: Eliminate- transport
- trans- + port
- across + carry
- carry across
-
5
Use the parts to eliminate choices
Even half the word can be enough. If you know mal- means bad, every positive choice is out for “malicious” or “malnourished.”
Next step: The limitsExample“Inaudible” most nearly means…
- in- = not, aud = hear.
- Out: very loud, easy to see, unclear to read.
- Left: too quiet to hear.
Answer Too quiet to hear
-
6
When the parts can mislead
Some prefixes look alike: in- can mean “not” (invisible) or “in, into” (inside, inhale). And a few words have changed meaning over time. When in doubt, check the meaning against the sentence or the choices.
in- = notincomplete
not complete
in- = intoinhale
breathe in
4 traps in the answer choices
The test writes its wrong answers on purpose: each one is what you get if you make one of these mistakes.
Look-alike prefixes
Inhale:
Wrongnot breathe
Rightbreathe in
Stopping at the first part
Benevolent:
Wronggood at sports
Rightkind, wishing good
Ignoring the suffix
Careless:
Wrongfull of care
Rightwithout care
A sound-alike, not a part
Malicious:
Wrongsomething like “delicious”
Rightmal- = bad: meaning harm
5 questions at test level
Pick an answer, then read why. No timer, no account.
Using word parts, benevolent most nearly means:
Show the answer
A. bene- means good and vol means wish: wishing good to others. Evil is the opposite. Benevolent most nearly means kind.
Malfunction most nearly means:
Show the answer
B. mal- means bad, so a malfunction is something working badly. The answer is to fail to work properly.
Chronological most nearly means:
Show the answer
C. chron is the root for time (as in chronic, synchronize), so chronological order follows time. The answer is in time order.
Inaudible most nearly means:
Show the answer
D. in- = not, aud = hear, -ible = able to be: not able to be heard. Seeing and reading belong to other roots. The answer is too quiet to hear.
Transport most nearly means:
Show the answer
A. trans- means across and port means carry. Write (scrib) and look (spect) are other roots. Transport most nearly means carry across.
11 flashcards
Tap a card to flip it. Keep the ones you miss until they stick.
All 11 cards known.
You finished word parts.
Practice score: not taken yet Take the practice
Next topic: A vocabulary planSee this topic move.
In the course, every topic is drawn step by step on a whiteboard while a voice explains it, with timed practice tests and a plan for your test date. The first lessons of every module are free.
