Negative

adjective
prefixes
-a, -dis, -il, -im, -in, -ir, -un, -non.
 What are negative prefixes?
A prefix is a few letters at the beginning of a word. It
can change the meaning of the word. Negative
statements are the opposite of affirmative
statements. In English, one way to make negative
statements is by adding negative prefixes to nouns,
adjectives, and verbs. Here are some English
negative prefixes: a–, dis–, il–, im–, in-, ir–, non–, un–.
Each of these prefixes goes together with certain words.
You cannot change which prefix you use with which word.
Normally, you use a prefix with an adjective to change its meaning. Or
you can use the word not before the adjective. It would mean the
same thing.
For example:
• Adjective – cool
• Negative adjective – uncool
• Not + adjective – not cool
There is no difference in meaning between ‘uncool’ and ‘not cool.’
However, you will sound more fluent and natural.
Here are how to use the prefixes to make words negative. You should
learn these negative words by heart, because there is not
always rhyme or reason to them!
01
A- prefix
Words that take a- as a
prefix always begin with a
consonant.
For example:
● apolitical (not political)
● asexual (not sexual)
● asocial (not social)
02
Dis- prefix
Words that use dis- as a prefix can begin
with a vowel (the letters a, e, i, o, u) or a
consonant (the rest of the letters!).
For example:
• disagree (to not agree)
• discomfort (not comfortable)
• disassemble (not assemble (put
together))
03
Il- prefix
Words that take il- as a
prefix always begin with the
letter l.
For example:
• illegal (not legal)
• illogical (not logical)
• illiterate (not literate (not able to
read))
04
Im- prefix
Words that use the im-
prefix always begin with an b, m, or p.
For example:
• imbalanced (not balanced)
• imperfect (not perfect)
• immortal (not mortal (cannot die))
• impossible (not possible)
05
In- prefix
Words that use the in- prefix can begin
with a consonant or a vowel
(except for i or u)
For example:
• inaccurate (not accurate (correct))
• insane (not sane (crazy))
• indecent (not decent (fine))
06
Ir- prefix
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Words that use the ir- prefix always begin
with the letter r.
For example:
● irrational (not rational (logical))
● irregular (not regular)
● irresistible (not resist (stop yourself))
07
Un- prefix
Words that begin with un- can begin with a
consonant or a vowel.
For example:
● unconfirmed (not confirmed (agreed, fixed)
● uninteresting (not interesting)
● unhelpful (not helpful)
08
Non- prefix
Words that begin with non- can begin with a
consonant or a vowel, and are sometimes
hyphenated.
For example:
• non-profit (not for profit)
• non-fiction (not fiction)
• nonsense (has no sense)