IRXEPF

WHAT ARE PREFIXES?

• A prefix is a group of letters we add to the
front of a word.
• Prefixes have their own meaning.
• Prefixes create new meanings.
Example:
1. view (first look)PREVIEW
2. star (top player)
SUPERSTAR
3. kind (rude)
UNKIND
 Prefix Dis- and Prefix Un-

1. Dis- means not, opposite of :

2. Un- means not

Prefix Dis-

Prefix Un-
My mum
was well at
the
weekend
with a bad
UNWELL
cold.
Sally agreed
with Tom
over who
threw the
snowball.
DISAGREED
Tom seemed
happy because it
was not able to
catch the Jerry.
UNHAPPY
Can you
please able
the alarm?

DISABLE
 fair lucky common aware
reliable
1. It means ‘rare’.
UNcommon
2. It means ‘not equal’.
UNfair
3. It means ‘cannot be depended on’.
UNreliable
4. It means ‘to not know something’.
UNaware
5. It means ‘bringing bad luck’
UNlucky
 respect similar appear cover
allow
1. It means ‘find something while searching’.
DIScover
2. It means ‘to vanish’.
DISappear
3. It means ‘lack of courtesy’.
DISrespect
4. It means ‘to refuse to give permission’.
DISallow
5. It means ‘different’
DISsimilar
 safe comfort pack approve
obey
1. Alice broke her ankle but she has not expressed
discomfort
any ______________.
2. James was afraid todisobey
____________ the orders of
his captain.
3. One scientist believe that the new found substance
unsafe
is __________ for animal testing.

disapprove
4. “I do not think that’s a good idea. I must
____________ on your actions.”

5. Camille was so excited tounpack

___________ her
luggage right after their trip.
 Is it Re-, De- or Pre-?
precaution
premature
prefix
deconstruct
re heat deposit
rebrand
deform rearrange
 Prefixes Re-, Prefix De- and
Pre-
3. Pre- means before

4. Re- means again

5. De- means opposite

Danny had to fill the
bucket. REFILL
A fix is fixed to the
front of a word.
PREFIX
Dad had to frost the
chicken before he put
it in the oven.
DEFROST
The time to part from
the station had
arrived.
DEPART
I was not able to
watch the game but I
am glad there was a
REPLAY
play.
Bart liked historic
animals. PREHISTORIC
 WHEN TO USE A HYPHEN
IN PREFIXES?

Most prefixes do not require a hyphen.

However, there are many exceptions,
some of which are described in the
following slides. When in doubt, always
consult a reputable dictionary.
1. Use hyphens with some prefixes.
Examples:
a. Prefix ex-
ex-player, ex-policeman
b. Prefix all-
all-knowing, all-important
c. Prefix mid-
mid-week, mid-July
d. Prefix self-
self-aware, self-sufficient
2. Hyphens are often put between prefixes and
words if the prefix ends with the same letter
that the word starts with.
Examples:
reexamine
re-examine
antiice cream
anti-ice cream
reenter
re-enter
3. Hyphens are used to prevent
confusion.
Examples:
a. Our teacher needs to re-mark our books.
a. That was a silly remark.
b. I need to re-cover the book.
b. I need to recover the book from my messy
room.
c. I will re-form the pot from the clay.
c. He is a reformed character.
3. Important: Prefix ‘pre’

We use a hyphen after prefix ‘pre’ under two

conditions:
#1. to separate the word beginning with letter ‘e’
to avoid confusion e.g.
pre-eminent ; pre-empt

#2. when there is a proper noun after ‘pre’ e.g.

pre-Columbian

In general, no hyphen is not used, e.g.

prehistoric; pregame; preflight; precondition etc.
PRACTICE #1
Answer 5B WB page
30.from the following prefixes.
Choose
o re- (again) o un- (not)
o pre- (before) o mis- (wrongly)
o anti- (against) o pro- (to promote)
o super- (great) o non- (not)
o post- (after) o dis- (opposite)
5B WB page 30
1. 7. pro-conservation
misunderstood
8. anti-smoking
2. pregame
9. mismatched
3. post-war
10. non-existent
4. superstar
11. misbehaved
5. retelling
12. redo
6. preflight
PRACTICE #2

Answer 5B HWB
page 17.
PRACTICE #1
Answer 5B HWB page
17.from the following prefixes.
Choose
o re- o un-
o pre- o mis-
o anti- o pro-
o super- o non-
o post- o dis-
5B HWB page 17
1. post-war 6. preschool
2. misjudged 7. misunderstood
3. post-democracy8. non-smoking
4. anti-smoking 9. prepaid
5. redo 10. retold