Word Formation Practice: Prefixes & Suffixes for Grade 8 PDF
Last Updated At: 20 Mar 2026
6 min read
Create New Words with Prefix and Suffix Grade 8 Worksheet PDF
Learning how words are formed can make English grammar both exciting and powerful. When students understand how prefixes and suffixes work, they can easily recognize new words and understand their meanings. This English grammar worksheet for Grade 8 focuses on prefix and suffix word formation and provides engaging exercises that help students practice building new words. Through structured activities, students learn how root words change when prefixes or suffixes are added.
What Is Prefix And Suffix Word Formation?
Prefix and suffix word formation is an important topic in English grammar. It explains how new words are created from a base word or root word.
A root word is the main part of a word that contains its core meaning. For example, in the word unexpected, the root word is expect.
When a group of letters is added to the beginning of a word, it is called a prefix. When letters are added at the end of a word, they are called suffixes.
Prefixes often change the meaning of a word, while suffixes may change both the meaning and the grammatical form of a word. Understanding these changes helps students recognize vocabulary and improve language skills.
This Grade 8 English grammar worksheet introduces students to root words, prefixes, and suffixes through engaging exercises that involve forming words, applying spelling changes, and writing sentences.
What’s In This Worksheet?
This English grammar worksheet contains different types of activities that help students practice prefix and suffix word formation.
1. Root word identification
Students study root words and understand how prefixes and suffixes change their meanings.
2. Word building activities
Students add prefixes and suffixes to base words to form new words.
3. Sentence creation
Students write sentences using newly formed words to demonstrate meaning.
4. Spelling change practice
Some exercises require spelling adjustments when suffixes are added.
5. Noun formation
Students convert base words into nouns using suffixes like -tion, -ity, and -ence.
6. Word family development
Students create noun, adjective, and adverb forms from base words.
These activities help strengthen vocabulary, grammar knowledge, and word formation skills.
Definitions, Examples, Techniques, And Tips
Root Word
A root word is the main part of a word that carries the basic meaning.
Example
unexpected → expect is the root word.
Prefix
A prefix is added before a word to change its meaning.
Example
disappear
Suffix
A suffix is added after a word to change its meaning or form.
Example
happiness
Word Formation Technique
Students can form new words by following these steps:
1. Identify the root word.
2. Decide whether a prefix or suffix is required.
3. Add the correct prefix or suffix.
4. Check if spelling changes are needed.
5. Use the new word in a sentence if required.
Why Is It Important To Learn This?
Learning prefixes and suffixes helps students understand the structure of words. It expands vocabulary and improves comprehension.
Students can guess the meaning of unfamiliar words by recognizing the root word and the prefix or suffix attached to it.
It also improves writing skills because students can use different word forms correctly.
This knowledge is very helpful for school exams, reading comprehension, and everyday communication.
Where Will This Knowledge Help You?
Understanding prefixes and suffixes helps students in many situations.
In exams, students often need to identify or form words using prefixes and suffixes.
In writing tasks, this knowledge helps students use richer vocabulary and express ideas clearly.
During reading activities, recognizing prefixes and suffixes helps students quickly understand unfamiliar words.
It also improves speaking skills because students can use a variety of word forms confidently.
How To Use This Worksheet?
Students can follow these steps to use this worksheet effectively.
1. Carefully read the instructions for each section.
2. Attempt every question independently before checking answers.
3. Compare your answers with the answer key provided below.
4. Notice spelling changes that occur when suffixes are added.
5. Practice forming similar words regularly to strengthen vocabulary.
The solutions below follow the exact order of the worksheet questions.
Important Tips And Tricks
1. Always identify the root word first.
2. Check whether the question requires a prefix or a suffix.
3. Pay attention to spelling changes such as doubling letters or dropping letters.
4. Use the new word in a sentence to understand its meaning.
5. Practice word formation regularly to improve vocabulary skills.
Complete Answer Key
Exercise – 1
Root Word – tract
Add Prefix or Suffix – contract
Meaning – to bring together or shorten
Root Word – dict
Add Prefix or Suffix – predict
Meaning – to say what will happen in the future
Root Word – spect
Add Prefix or Suffix – inspect
Meaning – to look at something carefully
Root Word – mit / miss
Add Prefix or Suffix – dismiss
Meaning – to send away or remove
Root Word – cred
Add Prefix or Suffix – credible
Meaning – able to be believed
Root Word – scribe
Add Prefix or Suffix – describe
Meaning – to explain or give details about something
Root Word – aqua
Add Prefix or Suffix – aquarium
Meaning – a place where water animals are kept
Exercise – 2
act
inactive
Sentence: The old machine remained inactive for several months.
decide
undecided
Sentence: She was undecided about which college to choose.
appear
disappearance
Sentence: The sudden disappearance of the cat worried everyone.
trust
untrustworthy
Sentence: The witness seemed untrustworthy during the investigation.
peace
peacefully
Sentence: The baby slept peacefully throughout the night.
approve
disapproval
Sentence: His teacher showed disapproval of his careless work.
Exercise – 3
1. making
2. stopped
3. happily
4. decision
5. disappear
6. beautiful
7. runner
8. courageous
9. thermal
10. interrupt
Exercise – 4
1. education
2. curiosity
3. attendance
4. activity
5. absence
6. creation
7. possibility
8. patience
9. maturity
10. information
11. completion
Exercise – 5
quick
Noun – quickness
Adjective – quick
Adverb – quickly
create
Noun – creation
Adjective – creative
Adverb – creatively
brave
Noun – bravery
Adjective – brave
Adverb – bravely
help
Noun – helpfulness
Adjective – helpful
Adverb – helpfully
courage
Noun – courage
Adjective – courageous
Adverb – courageously
care
Noun – care
Adjective – careful
Adverb – carefully
patient
Noun – patience
Adjective – patient
Adverb – patiently
success
Noun – success
Adjective – successful Adverb – successfully
Understanding prefix and suffix word formation helps students expand vocabulary and recognize how English words are constructed. This Grade 8 English grammar worksheet provides structured practice that strengthens grammar knowledge, word formation skills, and sentence building abilities. With regular practice, students become more confident readers, writers, and speakers.