Quiz: Prefixes and Suffixes

Subject: SPaG | Year: 3

Questions (Student Sheet)

Name: _________________________ Class/Set: ____________ Date: ____________

[Teacher Script: "Prefixes are groups of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. For example, 'un-' often means 'not'. Look at the options below and choose the correct meaning."]

Q1: What does the prefix un- mean when it is added to a root word like happy or kind? a) ☐ To do something again b) ☐ To do something before c) ☐ The opposite of or 'not' d) ☐ To do something badly

Q2: Which of these words is spelt correctly when adding the suffix -ness to the root word sad? a) ☐ Sadness b) ☐ Saddness c) ☐ Sadeness d) ☐ Sad-ness

[Teacher Script: "The prefix 'mis-' means 'wrongly'. When we add it to a word that already starts with 's', we must be very careful with the spelling. Examine the options closely."]

Q3: Which word shows the correct way to add the prefix mis- to the root word spell? a) ☐ Mispel b) ☐ Mispell c) ☐ Misspell d) ☐ Miss-spell

⇨ Study the table below showing different prefixes and their meanings.

Prefix	Meaning	Example
re-	Again	Replay
dis-	Not / Opposite	Disagree
pre-	Before	Pre-heat
sub-	Under	Subway

Q4: According to the table, which prefix should you add to the word view if you want to describe seeing something before it is shown to everyone else? a) ☐ re- b) ☐ dis- c) ☐ pre- d) ☐ sub-

Q5: When you add the suffix -ful to a word like play or help, what does it usually mean? a) ☐ Without any b) ☐ Full of c) ☐ To do something again d) ☐ Someone who does an action

Score: _______ / 5

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⚠ TEACHER’S GUIDANCE

💡 Pedagogical Landing

• Delivery Advice: For Year 3, these questions transition from simple phonics-based spelling to structural morphology. It is recommended to use 'Word Sums' (e.g., mis + spell = misspell) on the whiteboard to model the preservation of the double 's'.
• Common Misconception: Students often omit the second 's' in misspell or dissatisfied because they hear only one 's' sound. Emphasise that the prefix remains intact regardless of the root word's first letter.
• Differentiation: For students working at 'Greater Depth', ask them to write a sentence for each correct answer to demonstrate contextual understanding.

Answer Key & Explanations

Q1: c

Explanation: The prefix un- is used to create an antonym (the opposite). For example, unhappy means not happy. Option 'a' describes the prefix re-, and option 'b' describes the prefix pre-.

Q2: a

Explanation: When adding -ness, we simply add the suffix to the end of the root word sad. You do not need to double the final 'd' of the root word, nor do you need a hyphen.

Q3: c

Explanation: This is a common spelling trap. The prefix is mis- and the root word is spell. When you join them together, you must keep both 's' letters, resulting in misspell.

Q4: c

Explanation: The table clearly states that the prefix pre- means before. Therefore, a preview is a viewing that happens before the main event. This task requires students to contrast the different prefix meanings provided in the data.

Q5: b

Explanation: The suffix -ful (spelt with only one 'l') means full of. A playful child is full of play. Option 'a' describes the suffix -less (e.g., fearless).