The TABE Reading test, particularly at the lower levels, includes questions on prefixes and suffixes to assess a test taker's understanding of how these morphemes influence word meaning.
A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. Understanding prefixes helps you figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words and build your vocabulary. For example:
pre- means before (e.g., preview, prepay)
un- means not or opposite of (e.g., unhappy, unlock)
re- means again (e.g., reread, redo)
A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or part of speech. Suffixes often indicate if a word is a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.
Some common suffixes you might encounter are:
-less means without (e.g., homeless, careless)
-ly turns an adjective into an adverb (e.g., quickly, softly)
-er means a person who does something or a comparative degree (e.g., teacher, taller)
On the TABE, you may be asked to identify the meaning of a word based on its prefix or suffix, or to choose the correct prefix or suffix to complete a sentence.
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