Morpheme Matrix Worksheet — Three Standardized Matrices

1. What Is a Morpheme?

A morpheme is a meaningful word part. Some morphemes are whole words, like tract or script. Other morphemes are word parts, like dis-, re-, de-, -ed, -ing, -ion, or -able.

Prefix: a word part added before a base or root.

Root: the main word part that carries the central meaning.

Suffix: a word part added after a base or root.

How to use this page: Each matrix has the same activity pattern: build words, identify parts, break words into morphemes, choose real or non-existent words, and write your own examples.

Matrix 1

2. Morpheme Matrix — tract

Use the matrix to build real words. The root tract means “to draw or pull.”

dis re de sub	tract “to draw or pull” free root	s ed ing
		or ion able / ible

Examples: tract, tracts, tractor, retract, retracted, detract, subtract, subtraction, distractible.

2A. Build Words from the Matrix

Click words from the bank to fill the blanks.

subtract retract tractor detract subtraction distracting retracted distractible tractable detractor

1. In math, we can five from ten.

2. A farmer may use a to pull heavy equipment.

3. The newspaper had to the false story.

4. Loud music can be very during a test.

5. A small mistake should not from her excellent work.

2B. Prefix, Root, or Suffix?

Choose the correct part for each morpheme.

Answered: 0 / 0

1. re-

2. tract

3. -ing

4. sub-

5. -ion

6. dis-

7. -able

8. de-

2C. Break the Word into Morphemes

Write the prefix, root, and suffix. Leave a box empty if the word does not have that part.

1. retracted

2. subtraction

3. tractor

4. detracting

5. distractible

2D. Match the Word to Its Meaning

Choose the best meaning for each morpheme word.

1. subtract

2. retract

3. tractor

4. distracting

5. subtraction

6. distractible

2E. Write with the Matrix

Write five real words from this matrix.

Choose one word from the matrix and use it in a sentence.

Matrix 2

3. Morpheme Matrix — scrib / script

The roots scrib and script mean “to write.”

in de pre sub	scrib / script “to write” bound and free root forms	s ed ing
		er ion able

Examples: describe, described, describing, inscribe, inscribed, prescription, subscription, prescribable.

3A. Build Words from the Matrix

Click words from the bank to fill the blanks.

describe described describing inscribe inscribed inscribing prescribe prescription subscription prescribable

1. Can you the picture to your partner?

2. The doctor may medicine for an infection.

3. My magazine ends next month.

4. The artist her name on the sculpture.

5. The medicine is , but only by a doctor.

3B. Prefix, Root, or Suffix?

Choose the correct part for each morpheme.

Answered: 0 / 0

1. pre-

2. script

3. -ed

4. sub-

5. -ion

6. in-

7. scrib

8. -able

3C. Break the Word into Morphemes

Write the prefix, root, and suffix. Leave a box empty if the word does not have that part.

1. described

2. prescription

3. inscribing

4. subscription

5. describable

3D. Match the Word to Its Meaning

Choose the best meaning for each morpheme word.

1. describe

2. prescribe

3. subscription

4. inscribed

5. prescribable

6. describing

3E. Write with the Matrix

Write five real words from this matrix.

Choose one word from the matrix and use it in a sentence.

Matrix 3

4. Morpheme Matrix — spect

The root spect means “to see, watch, or observe.”

in re sus (under)	spect “to see, watch, or observe” bound root	s ed ing
		er / or ion able ive

Examples: inspect, inspected, respecting, suspect, suspicion, inspection, spectator, perspective.

4A. Build Words from the Matrix

Click words from the bank to fill the blanks.

inspect inspected inspecting respect respecting suspect suspicion inspection spectator perspective

1. The health worker will the restaurant kitchen.

2. We should other people’s opinions.

3. The detective began to that the story was false.

4. The building passed its safety .

5. A watches an event but does not play.

4B. Prefix, Root, or Suffix?

Choose the correct part for each morpheme.

Answered: 0 / 0

1. in-

2. spect

3. -ing

4. re-

5. -ion

6. sus-

7. -or

8. -ive

4C. Break the Word into Morphemes

Write the prefix, root, and suffix. Leave a box empty if the word does not have that part.

1. inspected

2. respecting

3. suspicion

4. inspector

5. respective

4D. Match the Word to Its Meaning

Choose the best meaning for each morpheme word.

1. inspect

2. respect

3. suspect

4. inspection

5. spectator

6. perspective

4E. Write with the Matrix

Write five real words from this matrix.

Choose one word from the matrix and use it in a sentence.

5. Create Your Own Morpheme Matrix

Make your own word-building matrix.

Prefixes:

Roots or base words:

Suffixes:

Write five real words from your matrix.

Answer Key

Matrix 1 — Build Words: 1 subtract, 2 tractor, 3 retract, 4 distracting, 5 detract

Matrix 1 — Parts: re = prefix, tract = root, ing = suffix, sub = prefix, ion = suffix, dis = prefix, able = suffix, de = prefix

Matrix 1 — Break Words: retracted = re + tract + ed; subtraction = sub + tract + ion; tractor = tract + or; detracting = de + tract + ing; distractible = dis + tract + ible

Matrix 1 — Meanings: subtract = take away; retract = pull back; tractor = a machine that pulls; distracting = taking attention away; subtraction = the process of taking away; distractible = easy to distract

Matrix 2 — Build Words: 1 describe, 2 prescribe, 3 subscription, 4 inscribed, 5 prescribable

Matrix 2 — Parts: pre = prefix, script = root, ed = suffix, sub = prefix, ion = suffix, in = prefix, scrib = root, able = suffix

Matrix 2 — Break Words: described = de + scrib + ed; prescription = pre + script + ion; inscribing = in + scrib + ing; subscription = sub + script + ion; describable = de + scrib + able

Matrix 2 — Meanings: describe = tell about something in words; prescribe = officially recommend medicine; subscription = regular payment for a service; inscribed = written on a surface; prescribable = able to be officially recommended; describing = giving details in words

Matrix 3 — Build Words: 1 inspect, 2 respect, 3 suspect, 4 inspection, 5 spectator

Matrix 3 — Parts: in = prefix, spect = root, ing = suffix, re = prefix, ion = suffix, sus = prefix, or = suffix, ive = suffix

Matrix 3 — Break Words: inspected = in + spect + ed; respecting = re + spect + ing; suspicion = sus + spect + ion; inspector = in + spect + or; respective = re + spect + ive

Matrix 3 — Meanings: inspect = look at carefully; respect = show admiration or consideration; suspect = believe someone may be guilty; inspection = careful examination; spectator = a person watching an event; perspective = a particular way of seeing something

Writing sections and Create Your Own Matrix: Answers will vary.