Practice
Root words exercise 2: build meaning from word parts
Sign in to saveA sign says that the entrance is invisible from the road. You may know visible already. The prefix in- gives you a useful first clue, and the road sentence tells you that the entrance cannot be seen from there.
Use a familiar root and the sentence around it to make and check a careful meaning guess about a related English word.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
active action and reaction /ˈæktɪv ˈækʃən ænd riˈækʃən/
The short answer
Find the part you recognise, make a possible meaning, and test it against the whole sentence. In transport, port is linked with carrying; the sentence tells you what is being carried and how.
The museum will transport the painting in a padded crate.
Why it works: The word suggests moving or carrying something from one place to another. The crate confirms that the painting is being moved safely.
5 more examples
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The volunteers took quick action after the storm damaged the roof.
Action is a noun for something people do. The volunteers responded by doing something quickly.
Not this:The volunteers were
activeafter the storm damaged the roof. What changes: Active is an adjective. It describes the volunteers as busy, but it does not name the particular response they made. -
The engineer reacted calmly when the alarm sounded.
Reacted is a verb for responding to something that happened. The alarm is the event that caused the response.
Not this:The engineer
checkedthe alarm calmly before leaving the building. What changes: Checked describes the engineer's action. Reacted would emphasise the response to the alarm itself. -
A small portable charger kept her phone working during the journey.
Portable describes something that can be carried easily from place to place.
Not this:A delivery van
transportedthe boxes to the library. What changes: Transported is a verb for moving something. Portable is an adjective for an item that is easy to carry. -
The old path became invisible after the grass grew tall.
Invisible means unable to be seen. Tall grass hides the path from view.
Not this:The path was
visiblefrom the hill above the field. What changes: Visible has the opposite meaning: it can be seen. The setting tells the reader where the path can be seen from. -
The editor asked for a revision before the report was printed.
A revision is a changed version or the work of changing something. Here the report needs changes before printing.
Not this:The editor will
revisethe report before it is printed. What changes: Revise is the action word. Revision is the noun for the changed version or process.
Read the full guide
Treat a root as evidence, not as a complete answer. First notice a familiar part. Next decide what kind of word the whole form is: a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. Then read before and after the word to see whether your first guess fits the situation.
Start with the part you already know
A familiar part can give you a sensible starting point. If you know act, you can expect action, active, and react to have something to do with doing or responding. Do not stop there: decide how the complete word works in its sentence.
Her action prevented the door from closing.
Action is a noun. It names the thing she did to stop the door.
Her quick reaction prevented the door from closing.
Reaction is also a noun, but it specifically names a response to an event.
Which word names a response to an event: action or reaction?
Reaction. Both words are related to doing, but reaction points to an answer to something that happened.
Use the ending to check the word class
The ending of a word often helps you predict its job. The ending -tion frequently occurs in nouns, while -ive often occurs in adjectives. This clue can help you choose a form that fits the grammar around it.
The team made a careful decision after the meeting.
Decision is a noun. It is the thing the team made.
The team decided after the meeting.
Decided is a verb. It tells what the team did.
After the article a, which form is likely: a decision or a decide?
A decision. The article a is followed here by a noun, so the noun ending helps confirm the choice.
Read context before accepting a guess
A word part can suggest a broad idea, but the rest of the sentence shows what that idea means here. Look for the subject, the object, and the result. They can tell you whether a person is carrying something, changing something, or simply describing it.
The school will transport the sports equipment by bus.
The equipment is the object being moved, and the bus tells you how it will travel.
This portable speaker fits inside my backpack.
The backpack context shows that portable describes an item that is convenient to carry.
What should you do after a root gives you a possible meaning?
Read the entire sentence. Context checks whether the possible meaning and the word's grammar actually fit.
Notice opposites built around a shared idea
A prefix can reverse or limit an idea, but it still needs context. In- in invisible produces an adjective for something that cannot be seen. Comparing a pair can make the change clear.
The numbers are visible on the bright display.
Visible means that people can see the numbers.
The numbers become invisible when the screen turns off.
Invisible means that people cannot see them in that situation.
If a label is invisible in dim light, can you see it clearly?
No. Invisible tells you that it cannot be seen, and dim light explains why it is difficult to see.
Connect forms in a useful word family
Learning related forms together makes vocabulary easier to reuse. A verb tells an action, a noun can name the action or result, and an adjective can describe a person or thing. Make a short note of the form and one natural sentence for each new family.
The committee will revise the safety instructions.
Revise is the verb for changing the instructions.
The committee completed a revision of the safety instructions.
Revision is the noun for the changed version or the process of changing it.
Which form would follow will: revise or revision?
Revise. Will is followed by a base verb, while revision is a noun.
Before you go
Remember this
Use the familiar part of a word to make a possible meaning, then use its ending and the whole sentence to check your idea. Word families help you notice connections between nouns, verbs, and adjectives, but context gives the final answer.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Root words exercise 2: build meaning from word parts"
How do root words help with new English vocabulary?
A familiar root can suggest a broad area of meaning. For example, act connects action, active, and reaction with doing or responding. Use that clue to make a first guess, then read the complete sentence to see the exact meaning and word class.
The volunteers took quick action after the storm damaged the roof.
What is a word family?
A word family contains related forms built around a shared central part. Revise is a verb, revision is a noun, and revised can describe something that has been changed. Learning the forms together helps you choose one that fits the grammar of your sentence.
The volunteers were active after the storm damaged the roof.
How can I tell whether a new word is a noun or a verb?
Look at the words around it as well as its ending. An article such as a often introduces a noun, as in a decision. After will, English normally uses a base verb, as in will decide. Endings are clues, but the sentence confirms the answer.
The engineer reacted calmly when the alarm sounded.
Does a prefix always give the opposite meaning?
No. A prefix may give a useful clue, but its effect depends on the complete word. In invisible, in- helps form an adjective for something that cannot be seen. Check a learner's dictionary if the context does not make the change clear.
The engineer checked the alarm calmly before leaving the building.
Should I trust a meaning guess from word parts alone?
Treat it as a starting point. Word parts can point you toward a possible meaning, while context shows whether that meaning works in the situation. Check a reliable learner's dictionary when accuracy matters, especially in formal writing or an exam.
A small portable charger kept her phone working during the journey.