Prefixes

Rules & Practice

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Negative prefixes are an addition to many words. They are placed at the beginning and convey the meaning of NO, that is, they turn the word into its opposite.

Look at the example: ABLE means capable UNABLE means incapable (not able)

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There are several negative prefixes, but no rules to choose them, as each one goes with certain words and not with others, so the best idea is to use your dictionary. These are the main prefixes: UnInIr IlImDisNonADe Anti-

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Actually, three of the prefixes are the same one in different forms, depending on the letter that follows it:

IN- It changes to il- before adjectives beginning with l.

It changes to im- before adjectives beginning with m and p. It changes to ir- before adjectives beginning with r.

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Un- is the only prefix of English origin, but it combines with many non-native words, too.

Lets practise now!

Prefixes

Prefixes
Which prefix fits best with the following meanings?

______ = against ______ = remove, away, down ______ = more than, very ______ = between ______ = under, below ______ = after ______ = across, over, change

antide-

superinter-

post-

subtrans-

Prefixes

anti = against 3 1) Someone who is against partying and being around people. 2) Against war. 3) Pills you take to work against your depression. 4) Medicine you are given if you have been poisened to fight against the poison, 5) Like alcohol which you use to fight against bacteria and germs.
created by JBR - October 2011

antidepressant 4 1 antidote antisocial antiseptic anti-war

5
2

Prefixes

Super = more than, very 2 supersensitive 1. Greater/faster than speed of sound 5 superhuman

2. Very sensitive
3. Someone with a big ego, thinks highly of himself.

1 supersonic
3 superego 4 superstar

4. A big star
5. Someone who is very powerful

created by JBR - October 2011

Prefixes

de- = remove, away, down 4 devalue destroy descent decrease default

1. failure to act
2. to put an end to something (remove) 3. do go down 4. to make less valuable 5. becoming less.

3
5 1

created by JBR - October 2011

Prefixes

inter- = between
2 1. between two stages / levels 2. To communicate with someone else. 3. To stop people talking 4. To twine or twist together 1 4 5 3

interact intermediate intertwine intercept

5. To stop someone/ something in its

course, overhear.

interrupt

created by JBR - October 2011 created by JBR - October 2011

Prefixex

post- = after 5 1. Someone who has graduated postwar 2 postscript (p.s.)

college and is learning at the Uni.

2. After writing, after thought 3. Hurry quickly, at the last minute.

3 posthumous
4 postmodern

4. Being born after someones death.

5. After the war.

1 postgraduate

created by JBR - October 2011 created by JBR - October 2011

Prefixes

sub- = under /below 2 1) Your thoughs below your consiousness 2) Ship under the ocean 3) Translated text under a movie 4) to sink to a low or lower level, to get more quiet, calmer 5) and underground railway in a large city. 5 submarine subway

1 subconscious
3 4 subtitles

subside

created by JBR - October 2011 created by JBR - October 2011

Prefixes

trans- = across, over, change 3 1) Sending across 2) A stop between passing across or through, waiting area. 3) A male who likes to come across as a female and dresses like one. 4) Explain from one language to another 5) Change from one stage to another 5 transvestite transition translate

4
1

transmission
2

transit

created by JBR - October 2011 created by JBR - October 2011

Edher Paredes Dulce

Trainee Teacher