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CBSE · Class 8 · English

Prefixes and Suffixes

Standard difficulty · 20 questions · 40 marks

Name: Date: Score: ____ / 40

Write full answers in Sections B and C. Answers are on the last page — try every question first!

Section A — Choose the correct answer8 × 1 = 8 marks
1.
What does the prefix “re-” mean in “rebuild”?
  1. relating to
  2. without
  3. the state or time of being
  4. again
2.
What does the suffix “-ly” mean in “quickly”?
  1. in a way that is
  2. the state or quality of
  3. between
  4. not
3.
What does the prefix “over-” mean in “overcook”?
  1. the state or time of being
  2. too much
  3. a person skilled in
  4. to make or become
4.
What does the suffix “-ise” mean in “modernise”?
  1. to make or become
  2. against
  3. too much
  4. many
5.
Which word has a suffix meaning “the act or process of”?
  1. preheat
  2. creation
  3. unhappy
  4. quickly
6.
Which word has a prefix meaning “again”?
  1. rewrite
  2. overcook
  3. kindness
  4. triangle
7.
Which word has a suffix meaning “without”?
  1. fearless
  2. teacher
  3. creation
  4. misspell
8.
Which word has a suffix meaning “the act or result of”?
  1. illegal
  2. development
  3. irregular
  4. overcook
Section B — Short answer8 × 2 = 16 marks
9.
Split each word into its root word and its prefix or suffix: “government”, “multinational”.
10.
Split each word into its root word and its prefix or suffix: “irregular”, “bicycle”.
11.
Split each word into its root word and its prefix or suffix: “education”, “subway”.
12.
Split each word into its root word and its prefix or suffix: “inactive”, “homeless”.
13.
Join the parts to make a new word: (a) un- + happy (b) farm + “-er”
14.
Join the parts to make a new word: (a) im- + possible (b) im- + polite
15.
Join the parts to make a new word: (a) pre- + heat (b) tri- + angle
16.
Join the parts to make a new word: (a) under- + estimate (b) courage + “-ous”
Section C — Longer answers4 × 4 = 16 marks
17.
Make the OPPOSITE of each word by adding a prefix: “legal”, “happy”, “kind”, “symmetrical”.
18.
Write the root word and the suffix of each: “fearless”, “helpful”, “friendship”, “artist”. What does each suffix mean?
19.
Write the prefix in each word and what it means: “bicycle”, “unhappy”, “inactive”, “irresponsible”.
20.
Give the meaning of each and write one word that uses it: “-al”, “-hood”, “dis-”.
AmbifulWorksheets
Practice that never repeats
CBSE · Class 8 · English

Answer key

Prefixes and Suffixes · AW-8E-AFX-2026-V1 · For parents — fold back or tear off before handing the sheet to your child.

QAnswerWorking
1(d) againrebuild = re- + build
2(a) in a way that isquickly = quick + “-ly”
3(b) too muchovercook = over- + cook
4(a) to make or becomemodernise = modern + “-ise”
5(b) creationcreation = create + “-tion”
6(a) rewriterewrite = re- + write
7(a) fearlessfearless = fear + “-less”
8(b) developmentdevelopment = develop + “-ment”
9government = govern + “-ment”; multinational = multi- + national—
10irregular = ir- + regular; bicycle = bi- + cycle—
11education = educate + “-tion”; subway = sub- + wayThe spelling of the root can change a little when a suffix is added.
12inactive = in- + active; homeless = home + “-less”—
13(a) unhappy (b) farmerun- means "not"; -er means "a person who".
14(a) impossible (b) impoliteim- means "not"; im- means "not".
15(a) preheat (b) trianglepre- means "before"; tri- means "three".
16(a) underestimate (b) courageousunder- means "too little"; -ous means "full of; having".
17illegal, unhappy, unkind, asymmetricalPrefixes that mean "not": un-, im-, dis-, il-, ir-, in-, non-, a-
18fearless = fear + “-less” (without); helpful = help + “-ful” (full of); friendship = friend + “-ship” (the state or relationship of); artist = art + “-ist” (a person skilled in)—
19bicycle: bi- (two); unhappy: un- (not); inactive: in- (not); irresponsible: ir- (not)—
20-al: relating to, e.g. traditional; -hood: the state or time of being, e.g. childhood; dis-: not, e.g. disagreeAny correct word using the prefix or suffix.