Word Formation

Prefixes
Introduction
There are many word beginnings and word endings
that can be added to a word to change its meaning or
its word class.

We use these beginnings and endings to transform one

type of word into another of a different category.
Nouns to Adjectives, Adjectives to Adverbs, etc.
Introduction
There are different ways to change a word into a
different category. The most common are the prefixes
and the suffixes

Let’s take a look to both of these changes and the uses

we can give them when transforming a word
PREFIXES
Prefixes are letters which we add to the beginning of a
word to make a new word with a different meaning.
Prefixes can, for example, create a new word opposite in
meaning to the word the prefix is attached to. They can
also make a word negative or express relations of time,
place or manner. Or even modify the verb into another.
PREFIXES
Take a look to the different prefixes shown in the
charts so you can see all of the possible
transformations you can give to the root word and their
usual meanings
PREFIXES
Prefix Meaning Examples
anti-government, anti-racist,
anti- against/opposed to
anti-war

auto- self autobiography, automobile

de-classify, decontaminate,
de- reverse or change
demotivate

disagree, displeasure,
dis- reverse or remove
disqualify

down- reduce or lower downgrade, downsize

PREFIXES
Prefix Meaning Examples

extra- beyond extraordinary, extraterrestrial

hyper- extreme hyperactive, hypertension

illegal, impossible, insecure,

il-, im-, in-, ir- not
irregular

inter- between interactive, international

megabyte, mega-deal,
mega- very big, important
megaton
PREFIXES
Prefix Meaning Examples
midday, midnight, mid-
mid- middle
October

mis- incorrectly, badly misaligned, mislead, misspelt

non- not non-payment, non-smoking

overcook, overcharge,
over- too much
overrate

out- go beyond outdo, out-perform, outrun

 PREFIXES
Prefix Meaning Examples

post- after post-election, post-war

pre- before prehistoric, pre-war

pro- in favour of pro-communist, pro-life

re- again reconsider, redo, rewrite

semi- half semicircle, semi-retired

sub- under, below submarine, submissive

Prefix Meaning Examples

super- above, beyond super-hero, supermodel

tele- at a distance television, telepathic

trans- across transatlantic, transfer

ultra- extremely ultra-compact, ultrasound

un- remove, reverse, not undo, unpack, unhappy

under- less than, beneath undercook, underestimate

up- make or move higher upgrade, uphill