Grade 3 worksheet on prefixes and suffixes with word examples and definitions.

Let's solve the "Prefixes and Suffixes" worksheet step by step. The task asks us to:

1. Underline the root word in each given word.
2. Match the word to its correct definition.

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🔹 Step 1: Understand the Concept

- Root words are the base forms of words (e.g., "act" is the root of "acted", "action", etc.).
- Prefixes are added to the beginning of a word (e.g., *un-* in "unhappy").
- Suffixes are added to the end (e.g., *-ly* in "happily", *-ness* in "happiness").

These change the meaning or part of speech of the root word.

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🔹 Let's go through each word:

#### 1. acted
- Root word: act (underlined)
- Meaning: *took action (past tense)* → ✔ This matches the definition.

#### 2. action
- Root word: act (underlined)
- Meaning: *profession of performing in plays or films (action/process)* → Wait, this seems off.
Actually, “action” means *the process of doing something*, not specifically acting in plays. But the definition says:
> "profession of performing in plays or films (action/process)" — that’s more specific to actor, not action.

So this definition is incorrect for "action".

Correct definition should be: *process of doing something (state/action)* → This one matches better.

But wait — there are two definitions:
- A: profession of performing in plays or films
- B: process of doing something

So "action" → B: process of doing something.

#### 3. acting
- Root word: act (underlined)
- Meaning: *profession of performing in plays or films* → ✔ Yes! That's what "acting" means.

So:
- "acting" → profession of performing in plays or films

But now we have a conflict: both "action" and "acting" could go with similar meanings.

Wait — let’s clarify:

- Action = process of doing something (general)
- Acting = the profession of performing in plays/films

So:
- action → process of doing something
- acting → profession of performing in plays or films

Yes, that makes sense.

#### 4. careful
- Root word: care (underlined)
- Meaning: *felt concern for (past tense)* → No, that’s not right. "Careful" means being cautious, not past tense.
- The definition says: *felt concern for (past tense)* → That’s cared.
- So careful → not matching here.

Wait — look at the options:

Definitions:
- felt concern for (past tense) → this is cared
- not giving enough attention or thought to avoiding harm (without) → this is careless
- avoid potential danger, mishap, or harm (full of) → this is careful

Ah! So:
- careful → avoid potential danger, mishap, or harm (full of) → ✔

Because "careful" means full of care.

#### 5. careless
- Root word: care (underlined)
- Meaning: *not giving enough attention or thought to avoiding harm (without)* → ✔ Yes, "less" means without.

So: careless → not giving enough attention...

#### 6. cared
- Root word: care (underlined)
- Meaning: *felt concern for (past tense)* → ✔ Yes, "cared" is past tense of "care".

#### 7. happily
- Root word: happy (underlined)
- Meaning: *in a happy way (in what manner)* → ✔ Yes, "-ly" turns it into an adverb.

#### 8. happiness
- Root word: happy (underlined)
- Meaning: *the state of being happy (quality or state)* → ✔ Yes, "-ness" makes it a noun meaning state.

#### 9. unhappy
- Root word: happy (underlined)
- Meaning: *not happy (not)* → ✔ Yes, "un-" negates it.

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🔹 Now, let's match each word to its correct definition:

| Word | Root Word | Definition |
|------------|-----------|----------|
| acted | act | took action (past tense) |
| action | act | process of doing something (state/action) |
| acting | act | profession of performing in plays or films (action/process) |
| careful | care | avoid potential danger, mishap, or harm (full of) |
| careless | care | not giving enough attention or thought to avoiding harm (without) |
| cared | care | felt concern for (past tense) |
| happily | happy | in a happy way (in what manner) |
| happiness | happy | the state of being happy (quality or state) |
| unhappy | happy | not happy (not) |

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✔ Final Answer (Matching):

Now, write the correct matches:

1. acted → took action (past tense)
2. action → process of doing something (state/action)
3. acting → profession of performing in plays or films (action/process)
4. careful → avoid potential danger, mishap, or harm (full of)
5. careless → not giving enough attention or thought to avoiding harm (without)
6. cared → felt concern for (past tense)
7. happily → in a happy way (in what manner)
8. happiness → the state of being happy (quality or state)
9. unhappy → not happy (not)

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📝 Explanation Summary:

- We identified the root word in each term by removing prefixes (like *un-*, *dis-*) and suffixes (like *-ed*, *-ly*, *-ness*).
- Then we matched each word to its correct definition based on how the prefix/suffix changes the meaning.
- For example:
- *un-* means "not" → unhappy = not happy
- *-ly* means "in a manner" → happily = in a happy way
- *-ness* means "state of being" → happiness = state of being happy
- *-ed* shows past tense → acted, cared

This helps students understand how word parts build vocabulary!

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✔ All done! Let me know if you'd like this as a printable answer sheet.