Etymology of Latin and Greek Roots

English
GCSE
11 questions
~22 mins
1 views0 downloads

About This Worksheet

A worksheet focusing on Latin and Greek origins of English words, designed for error correction and analysis.

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Etymology of Latin and Greek Roots

Subject: EnglishGrade: GCSE
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Untitled Worksheet

Grade GCSE
A

Introduction to Latin and Greek Roots

Many English words derive from Latin and Greek roots, which often reveal the original meaning of the word. For example, the Latin root 'spectare' means 'to look at', and it appears in words like 'spectator' and 'inspect'. Similarly, the Greek root 'philo' means 'loving', found in words like 'philosophy' and 'philanthropy'. Understanding these roots can help us decipher unfamiliar words and improve our vocabulary skills.
1.
Identify and correct any spelling errors in the following sentence: 'Many english words deriv from Latin and Greek roots.'
2.
Explain the original meaning of the Latin root 'spectare'.
[2 marks]
3.
List two English words that contain the Greek root 'philo'.
[2 marks]
B

Error Correction Exercise

1. The spector watched the scene intently. 2. She has a strong philanthropy nature. 3. The inspecter examined the document thoroughly. 4. Greek roots are important for understanding many English words. 5. He was specting the stars last night.
1.
Correct sentence 1: 'The spector watched the scene intently.'
2.
Correct sentence 2: 'She has a strong philanthropy nature.'
3.
Correct sentence 3: 'The inspecter examined the document thoroughly.'
4.
Identify and correct the grammatical error in sentence 4: 'Greek roots are important for understanding many English words.'
5.
Correct sentence 5: 'He was specting the stars last night.'
C

Creative Writing Prompt

Using your knowledge of Latin and Greek roots, write a short paragraph explaining how understanding etymology can help improve vocabulary. You should aim for approximately 200 words.
1.
Write a short essay on the importance of etymology in expanding vocabulary.
D

Identify Literary Techniques

Read the excerpt below and identify the literary technique used in each highlighted phrase.
1.
What technique is used in the phrase 'Loving wisdom'?
[2 marks]
2.
Explain how the phrase 'His quest was driven by a desire to understand the world' reflects the Greek origin of the word 'philosophy'.
[3 marks]

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Details

Created
1/1/2026
Updated
1/1/2026
Type
worksheet