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Module 3

English
Decoding Words with Prefixes

A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development
 To the Learner

Dear Learner,

How are you today?

In your previous module you have already learned about stress. In
this module you will learn how to decode words with prefixes.

Let’s Learn This

This module will help you form new words by adding the right
prefixes. A prefix is a letter or letters placed before the rootword or
body of a word. The prefix changes the meaning of the word.

Let’s Try This

Below are three prefixes and their meanings. Use these prefixes
to form one word for the underlined words in each sentence.

re –-- again, back

un –-- not, opposite of
dis --- not, possible

1. Paste is not necessary in assembling toy cars. ____________

2. Sheila should arrange again the toys in the cabinet. ____________
3. Many children are not obedient. ____________
4. Our kitchen is not tidy. ____________
5. Garbage and wastes do not have pleasant odor. ____________
Finished?

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*Were all your answers like these?
1. unnecessary
2. rearrange
3. disobedient
4. untidy
5. unpleasant
* Write your score inside the umbrella.
* Let’s move on to the next activity.

Let’s Study This

Read the paragraph. Answer the questions that fallow.

Teacher Nena was sad because of the misbehavior of her

pupils. Tito was disrespectful and impolite. He laughed at the
misfortunes of his classmates. He teased the unfortunate ones. Allan,
Tito’s seatmate was dishonest during the pretest. He copied answers
from Tito. Teacher Nena called their attention and advised them to
behave properly. She told Allan to retake the test. The two boys
promised to be good boys and to obey their teacher always.

1. Who was disrespectful and impolite?

2. Who was dishonest?
3. What did Teacher Nena do to them?
4. Why is it good to behave properly in school and at home?

Read the words taken from the paragraph.

misbehavior disrespectful impolite pretest retake
misfortunes dishonest

- What are placed before each word?

-mis, dis, im, pre, re
- What does each syllable mean?
- What do you call these syllables?

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 The part added at the beginning of a word is a prefix. You may add
the prefix un, in, il, or dis to make new words or to form the opposite.
These prefixes mean “not”. Prefix like re, bi, sub, anti, pre and others
can also be used to form a new words.
Look at the examples.
unpopular inexpensive disbelief illogical
irresponsible untidy impatient
- The underlined prefixes mean “not”. Therefore, unpopular means
“not popular” irresponsible means “not responsible”, inexpensive
means “not expensive”, untidy means “not tidy”, and disbelief means
“not believing”.

Other prefixes and their meanings:

1. re – again = ex. return – to turn again
2. ex – out = ex. export – to catty out
3. pre – before = ex. prehistoric – period before recorded
4. post – after = ex. post operation – after an operation
5. mid – center = ex. midnight – time between night and morning
6. bi – two = ex. bicycle
7. sub – under = ex. submarine
8. anti – against = ex. antibiotic
9. pro – forward = ex. promotion
10. mis – wrong = ex. misconduct
11. trans – across = ex. transfer
12. uni – one = ex. uniform
13. di, dis – apart, not = ex. discomfort

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 Let’s Do This

Complete each word in the parenthesis by adding the proper

prefix ( under, over, ex, and super ) to it. Write the new words on your
answer sheet.

1. (abundant) There is an ____________ harvest of corn in the

province of Isabela this year.
2. (supply) It is expected then that there will be an _____________ of
corn in this province.
3. (governor) The ____________ of Isabela was responsible for the
successful corn farming.
4. (estimated) The farmers ____________ the volume of corn harvest
they would have.
5. (eat) The freshness and sweetness of our local white corn make
me _____________ boiled ones.
* Are you done?
* Look at the answer key to check your answers. If your score is 4 or
5 “That’s Perfect” but if your score is 3 and below, do your best in
the next activity.

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 Let’s Do More

Directions: Read each definition. Complete each sentence using

a word with the prefix un or re. The first one is done for you.

1. I repainted my sled.
(painted again)

Start here:

2. Did you _____________ your answer?

(consider again)
3. The treasure chest was ____________
(not locked)
4. Grandfather likes to ____________
that story. (tell again)
5. Watch the ____________ to see the
touchdown. (play again)
6. Is it best to avoid ____________
words. (not kind)

* Are you done? Look at the answer key

to check your answers. Write your score inside the big leaf.

* Are all your answers correct? Very Good!

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 Let’s Remember This

What is a prefix?
A prefix is a letter or letters placed before the rootword, base
word or body of a word. This prefix changes the meaning of the word.

Let’s Test Ourselves

- The prefix mis means wrongly and the prefix non means not.
Directions: Add the correct prefix to each word in the box. Write the
new words in the correct column.

stop take specific fire count

spell fat place sense human
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Are you done? Look at the answer key again then check your answers.
* How much did you get? If your score is 4 or 5 in both A & B,
Congratulations! Answer the next module.
* If your score is 3 and below in A and B, answer the next activity.

Let’s Enrich
Ourselves

A prefix is a part added to the beginning of a word to change its

meaning. The prefix un means not and the prefix re means again.

Directions: Add the correct prefix to each word in the word box. Write
the new words in the correct column.

draw lucky new clear wise fill

happy safe main spell fair search

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 * Did you get all answers correctly? Very Good!
* Here’s the golden medal for you! Job well done!

Answer Key

Let’s Do This
1. over-abundant Let’s Do More
2. over-supply 1. reconsider
3. ex-governor 2. unlocked
4. under-estimate 3. retell
5. over-eat 4. replay
5. unkind

Let’s Test Ourselves Let’s Enrich Ourselves

A. B.
mis non un re
1. misspell 1. nonstop unwise redraw
2. mistake 2. nonfat unlucky remain
3. misplace 3. nonsense unsafe renew
4. miscount 4. nonhuman unclear research
5. misfire 5. nonspecific unhappy respell
unfair refill

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