2. Grammar points

Exercise 2.1: Five Prefixes

After studying these five prefixes and their meanings, go to the 20 sentences. In each sentence underline a word beginning with one of these prefixes and fill in the blank with the best meaning for that prefix.

1. A propeller pushes a boat _______________.

2. A transport ship carries cargo _______________ the water.

3. An advancing army moves _______________ the enemy.

4. Interceptor aircraft come _______________ the enemy and their target.

5. A contrary person usually _______________ what is suggested.

6. Affixes are syllables which are added _______________ words. Prefixes and suffixes are affixes. (The d in ad- has been changed to f.)

7. Interscholastic competition is competition _______________ schools.

8. Something contrary to law is _______________ the law.

9. A transitive verb carries action from the subject _______________ to the object.

10. A projectile is hurled or shot _______________.

11. Adhesive makes a bandage stick _______________ the skin.

12. Contraband is illegal cargo. Carrying contraband is _______________ the law.

13. In an automobile, the transmission carries power from the engine _______________ to the rear wheels.

14. The room next _______________ this one is adjacent.

15. When flowers are transplanted, they are taken from one place in the ground and brought _______________ to another.

16. The intervening time is the time _______________ certain events.

17. Interplanetary travel is travel _______________ planets.

18. Persons marching or moving _______________ form a procession.

19. A promoted student moves _______________ from one grade to the next.

20. A contradiction is an _______________ statement.

Exercise 2.2. Four Adjective Suffixes

Study the four suffixes below and the examples. In the list which follows, change each word in column A to an adjective by adding one of these suffixes and write the new word in column B. Notice that you may have to change, drop, or add letters before adding the suffix to some words.

Exercise 2.3. Four Noun Suffixes

The four suffixes below when added to words form nouns. Study the suffixes and the examples carefully. In the list which follows, change each word in column A to a noun by adding one of these suffixes and write the new word in column B. You may have to change, drop, or add letters in some cases.

Exercise 2.4. Five Roots

Study the five roots and the examples. In each of the 20 sentences which follow, one of these roots has been used. Find and underline the root in each sentence. Then in the blank in each sentence, fill in the meaning of the root you have underlined. When more than one meaning is given for a root, choose the one which makes the best sense in the sentence.

1. A monogram is two or more letters combined to form ____ character or design.

2. A bibliophile is a _________ of books.

3. A monologue is a long speech delivered by __________ person.

4. A cyclic path goes round in _______________.

5. Graphology is the study of hand _______ for the purpose of character analysis.

6. The study of philosophy is literally the ______________ or pursuit of wisdom.

7. Man is sometimes called a microcosm, or little _______________.

8. A monocle is an eyeglass for _______________ eye.

9. Philadelphia means City of Brotherly _______________.

10. The graphic arts include painting, _______________, engraving, etc.

11. Cosmic dust consists of very fine particles of matter falling on the earth from the _______________.

12. A bicycle has two _______________.

13. Cosmology is a branch of metaphysics which deals with the character of the _______________.

14. A storm with _______________ winds is called a cyclone.

15. A graph is a diagram on which information has been ____________ or plotted.

16. A cosmopolitan population is composed of peoples from various parts of the _______________.

17. As you would suspect, one use of graphite is for _______________.

18. A monarchy is governed by _______________ supreme ruler.

19. Philharmonic groups share a _______________ for music.

20. In the past, a _______________ -winged aircraft was called a monoplane.

Exercise 2.5. Five Roots

Study the five roots and the examples. In each of the 20 sentences which follow, one of these roots has been used. Find and underline the root in each sentence. Then in the blank in each sentence, fill in the meaning of the root you have underlined. When more than one meaning is given for a root, choose the one which makes the best sense in the sentence.

Root From Meaning Example

phot Greek light photostat

poly Greek many polygamy

psych Greek mind psychopath

scop Greek seeing, watch telescope

tele Greek far, distant telescope

1. An instrument called the polygraph is used as a lie detector; it records simultaneously _______________ body reactions and changes.

2. Polygon is the name for a _______________ -sided figure.

3. Teletype machines are used to type messages between ______________ points.

4. On an oscilloscope one can _______________ variations of electrical current.

5. A helioscope is used for _______________ the sun without damaging the eye.

6. A psychic trauma is an emotional shock which leaves a permanent impression on the _______________.

7. Photometry is a branch of science which treats of the measurement of the intensity of _______________.

8. In music, polyphony refers to the combining of _______________ individual but harmonizing melodies.

9. An instrument used for _______________ and studying very small objects is called a microscope.

10. Many supermarkets are equipped with automatic doors which are activated by photoelectric cells; these cells operate the door whenever a beam of _______________ is interrupted.

11. Psychiatry deals with disorders of the _______________.

12. The miracle of television lets us see events which are _______________ away.

13. Psychoanalysis is a method developed by Freud of treating neuroses and other disorders of the _______________.

14. In biology, a photobiotic organism is one which requires ___________ in order to live.

15. A telemeter is an instrument used to measure the _____________ to an object.

16. On a radarscope, one _______________ the distance and direction of a detected object.

17. Polytheism is the belief in or worship of _______________ gods.

18. Photography is the art or process of producing images on film by the action of _______________.

19. Psychosomatic illness originates in the _______________.

20. A telephoto lens is used on a camera to take pictures of objects which are _______________ away.

Exercise 2.6.

The following paragraph contains eight words that have word parts added to them. Circle the eight words. Then list the base words to which the word parts were added. A base word is a word on which other words are based.

Mike was home alone. By noon, he was restless. He decided to make one of his famous omelets. He broke three uncooked eggs into a bowl. He added a spoonful of water and beat the mixture. Then he poured the eggs into a preheated skillet. He stirred nonstop. When the omelet was ready, Mike felt like the creator of a beautiful work of art.

Exercise 2.7.

Some of the words listed below have prefixes, and some don’t. Circle each word that has a prefix, and underline the prefix.

1. indirect 6. superb

2. read 7. irresistible

3. supermarket 8. inexpensive

4. subway 9. inch

5. region 10. refill