WORD FORMATION adding prefixes Prefixes to give negative

WORD FORMATION adding prefixes

Prefixes to give negative meaning Some words can be given a negative meaning by adding a prefix (e. g. dis- + like = dislike) to the beginning of a word. The two prefixes that are used often and have to be learnt by heart are: un- and dis-: respect – disrespect conventional – unconventional • some words can be used with both of the prefixes, but then they change meaning: like – unlike, dislike able – unable, disable 2

Some other prefixes that can be used to form words with negative meaning are: • il- for many (but not all) words beginning with the letter l literate – illiterate but loyal – disloyal • im- for many (but not all) words beginning with the letters m and p moral – immoral perfect – imperfect • ir- for many (but not all) words beginning with the letter r rational – irrational but reasonable – unreasonable • in- usually used for words of Latin origin balanced – inbalanced convenience - inconvenience 3

Prefixes to say when something happens • pre- means ‘before of a time or event’ mature – premature (=happening or done too soon, especially before the natural or desired time) • post- means ‘after’ or ‘later than’ graduate – postgraduate (= a student who has already obtained one degree and is studying at a university for a more advanced qualification i. e. after graduating) 4

Prefixes to indicate attitude • pro- means ‘supporting or approving of something’ and with this meaning it is normally used with a hyphen: pro-European • anti- means ‘opposed to’ or ‘against’ and is normally used with a hyphen anti-social anti-terrorist 5

Other prefixes and their meanings • mis- usually means ‘wrongly’ or ‘badly’ misbehave (=behave wrongly or badly) • re- usually means ‘again’ and is often added to verbs redevelop (= to change an arear of a town by replacing old buildings, etc. with the new ones i. e. to develop again) roads, • inter- means ‘between’ or ‘among’ interactive (= involving communication between people) • over- can mean ‘(from) above”. It can also mean ‘too much’ or ‘more than usual’ overview, oversee overworked, overspend • under- can mean ‘below’. It can also mean ‘not enough’ underground, undermine underpaid, undervalue 6