Prefixes:

We use prefixes to change meaning. They never change the part of speech. (Most
suffixes change the part of speech.)
• Many prefixes give a word a meaning which is the opposite or negative of the
original. For example, we can use the prefixes dis or un:
dis + appear - disappear
un + tie - untie
prefix meaning / use example
anti + adjective/noun opposite anti- clockwise/ anti-climax
anti + noun / adjective against anti-theft device / anti-European
co + noun / verb together cohabit
dis + verb negative/opposite dislike / disembark
il + adjective opposite illegal
im + adjective opposite impossible
in+adjective opposite indirect
inter + adjective between intercontinental
ir + adjective opposite irregular
mis + verb wrongly/ badly mistook / mishandle
over + verb too much overwork
out + verb more outnumber
post + noun / verb after postgraduate
pre + noun / verb before pre- arrangement
pro + noun / adjective in favor of pro-Unions / pro-European
sub + adjective below substandard
super + noun/ adjective greater than superhuman
trans + noun / verb / across transplant /transcontinental
un + verb / adjective negative / opposite unlock / unhappy
under + verb not enough/too little undercook / undercharge
There are a few rules:
• We use il instead of in with words that begin with l:
il + legal = illegal
• We use im instead of in with words that begin with m or p:
im + polite - impolite
• We often use ir instead of in with words that begin with r:
ir + responsible = irresponsible.

Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.

1
Match the words in the B column to the general meaning in A

A= General Meaning B= Words

_____ again or back 1) unpopular, unkind, unhappy,
unlucky
_____ before 2) biweekly, bimonthly,
biannual
_____ badly or wrong 3) delete, deforestation,
decentralize, decongest
_____ Remove or take away 4) preview, predict, prehistoric,
prefix, preparation
_____ Not (opposite of 5) reply, repeat, resend,
something) restart, reboot, remember
_____ far 6) television, telephone,
telescope, telecommunication
_____ twice 7) octopus, octave,
octogenarian, October
_____ One, whole, same 8) uniform, unify,

_____ eight 9) subway, submarine,

subtract, subdue, subordinates
_____ Under or low 10) mistake, misunderstand,
misbehave, misread,
miscalculate
_____ Many or more than two 11) multiple, multiply,
multicolored, multilingual

Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.

2
Add a prefix to each of the following words to make new words.

Prefixes you might need:

-un - dis - re - mis - de - im - in

- il - non - anti - pre

_____clockwise _____behave _____sense

_____possible _____place _____fix

_____happy _____lucky _____legal

_____code _____visible _____connect

_____fiction _____mind _____appear

_____view _____prove _____able

_____play _____frost _____wind

_____obey _____cover _____honest

_____healthy _____sent _____chief

_____serve _____historic _____fair

Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.

3
Modals:
Check through the different uses.

TYPE USE MODAL VERBS EXAMPLE

1 expressing ability CAN María can drive.

MAY, CAN,
2 asking for permission Could I borrow your pen?
COULD

3 giving permission MAY, CAN You can use my phone.

refusing permission, You may not talk in the

4 CAN'T, MAY NOT
prohibition exam

5 requests CAN, COULD Can you pass me the salt?

Look at the following phrases and write in which type you think it is. Then use one of
the modal verbs in brackets to fill the gaps.
TYPE

1 _______ You (may/could)________________ leave now if you wish.

2 _______ (Could/May)________________ you open the window a bit, please?

3 _______ (May/Can)________________ you play the piano?

4 _______ Listen, please. You (may not/could not)________________ speak

during this exam.

5 _______ You (can't/might not)________________ smoke on the bus.

6 _______ (Can't/May)________________ I make a call on your mobile?

7 _______ Do you know if Mark (can/may)________________ sing?

8 _______ (Can't/May)________________ I sit here, please?

9 _______ Caroline, your friends (can/could)________________ stay the night

if they want to. They're perfectly welcome.

10 _______ I'm sorry but you (can't/may)________________ use the computer

until after I've finished.

11 _______ (May/Could)________________ you lend me 40 Euros til Monday?

Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.

4
Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.
5
Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.
6
Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.
7
Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.
8
Mixed Conditionals:
There are three distinct types of I wish / if only sentences:-
1 - REGRETS with the PAST PERFECT (the third conditional) e.g. I wish I hadn't got so angry.
2 - WANTING CHANGE FOR THE PRESENT OR FUTURE with the PAST SIMPLE e.g. I wish I had
enough money to go to Mozambique this summer.
3 - COMPLAINTS with WOULD + INFINITIVE e.g. I wish you wouldn't arrive so late all the time.

Regrets

1 I wish I ___________________ drunk and kissed Samantha. (get NEGATIVE)

2 I wish it ___________________ so much. The garden's turned to mud. (rain

NEGATIVE)

3 If only I ___________________ there, I wouldn't have got a fine. (park NEGATIVE)

Wanting change

4 If only I ___________________ more time for my hobbies. (have)

5 I wish it ___________________ more often in Valencia. (rain)

6 I wish I ___________________ to go to your nephew's wedding. (have NEGATIVE)

Complaints

7 I wish you ___________________ so much. You're a complete idiot when you're

drunk. (drink NEGATIVE)

8 If only it ___________________ . The garden's as dry as a bone. (rain)

9 I wish Samantha ___________________ her hair more often. It looks so greasy all
the time. (wash)

Mixed

10 I wish you ___________________ so horrible to your brother. He's a really nice

guy. (be NEGATIVE)

11 I wish the council ___________________ that beautiful old house. It was part of
the town's heritage. (demolish NEGATIVE)

12 If only I ___________________ the money to go to Jon's wedding in The States.

(have)

Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.

9
Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.
10
Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.
11
Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.
12
Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.
13
Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.
14
Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.
15
Mtra. Ana Paulina Suárez C.
16