1. ENGLISHENGLISHENGLISHENGLISH
Marcy_cb21 6666Module 4
A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development
DECODING MEANING OF UNFAMILIAR WORDS
USING STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

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Dear Learner,
How are you learner?
Did you enjoy doing your module? I am sure you did a great job in
answering the exercises.
This module will help you discover the meaning of a word by
breaking it apart or deconstructing it at the same time activities given
will enhance your skills on deconstruction or structural analysis.
Complete each word in the parenthesis by adding the appropriate
prefix (under-, over-, ex-, and super-) to it. Write the new word on your
paper.
1. (abundant) There is an __________ harvest of corn in the province
of Isabela this year.
2. (supply) It is expected then that there will be an __________ of
corn in this province.
3. (governor) The __________ of Isabela was responsible for the
successful corn farming.
4. (estimated) The farmers __________ the volume of corn harvest
they would have.
5. (fine) Modern corn grinders tend to produce __________ corn flour.
To the Learner
Let’s Try This
Let’s Learn This

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• Are you done?
• Let’s check if we have the same answer.
1. overabundant
2. oversupply
3. ex-governor
4. underestimated
5. superfine
A. Affixes are letters or syllables added at the beginning or end
of a root word. Prefixes are letters or syllables placed before the
root word or the base form of a word. A root word is the form of
a word after all affixes are removed. A prefix changes the
meaning of a word. For example, the word unloading has the
prefix un- that means “opposite” or “not”. Unload, therefore,
means the opposite of load, or not loading.
Here are more prefixes with their meaning and examples.
Prefix Meaning Example
under- less or less than average undernourished
underweight
underestimate
over- too much or in excess overfed
overweight
oversupply
ex- former ex-mayor
ex-president
ex-governor
super- superior supernatural
superheat
Which word in the chart means each of the following?
1. less than the required average weight
2. too much supply
3. former town official
4. beyond power or law of nature
5. not well nourished

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B. Understanding Words Through Their Suffixes
Suffixes are letters or syllables added after the stem or the
root word. Knowing the meaning of suffixes will help us
understand the meaning of the newly-formed words.
• The suffix – ward means to a certain direction, as in:
backward forward southward
• The suffix – let means little, as in:
anklet eyelet piglet
• The suffix – able means capable or worthy of, as in:
manageable sustainable lovable
• The suffix – ation means denoting an action or an instance, as in:
limitation reservation hesitation
• The suffix – less means without, as in:
clueless skinless useless
• The suffix – ment means state of being, as in:
improvement treatment government
Read and analyze these sentences:
1. The freshness and sweetness of our local white corn make me
overeat boiled ones.
2. Overjoyed because of the bountiful harvest, the farmers shared
sacks of sweet corn to their neighbors.
Read and analyze the phrases:
1. to expose too much – overexpose
2. had too much sleep – overslept
3. former husband – ex-husband
4. man with superior strength – superman
5. a former priest – ex-priest

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Pick out the words that contain the prefix indicated in each
group. Use the dictionary if in doubt.
1. under – (less than) 2. over – (too much)
a. underage a. overture
b. underarm b. overtime
c. undergo c. overripe
d. undermanned d. overdraw
e. underchange e. overt
3. ex – (former) 4. super – (superior)
a. ex-secretary a. superfine
b. examine b. superfluous
c. ex-governor c. supersonic
d. excavate d. supervisor
e. ex-mayor c. superb
• Are you done?
• Look at the Answer Key to check the answers.
• Write your score inside the box.
Let’s Do This

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Affixes are used with root words. Affixes add to or
change the meaning of the root or base words. Unlike root
words, affixes can never be used alone. Affixes are either
prefixes or suffixes.
Prefixes always occur at the beginning of words.
Suffixes, on the other hand, are always added at the end
of a word.
Add the appropriate suffix to each word to form a new one. Note
the given clue. Write your answers on a separate sheet.
1. taste (lacking flavor)
2. book (a little book)
3. explore (the action of travelling in or through an unfamiliar area
in order to learn about it)
4. treat (medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury)
5. pay (able to be paid)
6. north (toward north)
7. develop (the process of being developed)
8. ally (a relationship based on an affinity in interests, nature, or
qualities)
9. isle (a small island)
10. persevere (steadfast in doing something despite difficulty in
achieving success)
Let’s Do More
Let’s Remember This

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Rewrite each sentence adding the suffix –let or –ish to the root
word inside the parentheses.
1. The sky looks (blue) today.
2. The children presented a (play) in front of their parents.
3. The man’s behavior is (child).
4. Rose looks (boy) in the new haircut.
5. Anna wears a (yellow) gown on her birthday party.
6. When he smells something foul, it makes him (squirm).
7. The book had a (flag) taped on it.
8. My father loves reading a (novel).
9. My friend is now becoming (self).
10. The painting of Mr. Baluyot looks (cartoon)
• Are you done?
• Look at the Answer Key to check the answers.
• If your score is 8-10, Congratulations! You may proceed to the
next module.
• If your score is 6-7, Answer the next activity “Let’s Enrich
Ourselves”.
• If your score is 5 and below, review the whole module.
Let’s Test Ourselves

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Use the words you formed in “Let’s Do More” to complete each
sentence below. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. The potato chips I bought was __________.
2. I read the __________ you gave me.
3. The United States is planning for the __________ of Mars.
4. The survivors of the plane crash were given __________ for their
injuries.
5. Mario’s new cellphone is __________ in two months.
6. The flock of migrating birds flew __________.
7. The __________ formed by the three countries aims to fight hunger
and poverty.
8. The __________ of a housing project will benefit many poor
families.
9. There is a small tribe inhabiting the __________.
10. Luis Yangco’s __________ paid off when he bought 100 bancas.
• Are you done?
• Look at the Answer Key again to check your answers.
• Write your score in the big ribbon.
• Congratulations! Job well done.
Let’s Enrich
Ourselves

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Let’s Do This
1. underage, undermanned, underchange
2. overtime, overripe, overdraw
3. ex-secretary, ex-governor, ex-mayor
4. superfine, supersonic, supervisor
Let’s Do More
1. tasteless 6. northward
2. booklet 7. development
3. exploration 8. alliance
4. treatment 9. islet
5. payable 10. perseverance
Let’s Test Ourselves
1. The sky looks bluish today.
2. The children presented a playlet in front of their parents.
3. The man’s behavior is childish.
4. Rose looks boyish in the new haircut.
5. Anna wears a yellowish gown on her birthday party.
6. When he smells something foul, it makes him squirmish.
7. The book had a flaglet taped on it.
8. My father loves reading a novelet.
9. My friend is now becoming selfish.
10. The painting of Mr. Baluyot looks cartoonish.
Answer Key

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Let’s Enrich Ourselves
1. tasteless 6. northward
2. booklet 7. development
3. exploration 8. alliance
4. treatment 9. islet
5. payable 10. perseverance