Learn English 100% free...Get 1 free lesson per week // Add a new lesson
Log in!

Click here to log in
New account
Millions of accounts created on our sites.
JOIN our free club and learn English now!



  • Home
  • Print
  • Guestbook
  • Report a bug




  • Get a free English lesson every week!
    Click here!





    Partners:
    - Our other sites
       


    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #5593: Prefixes (1)
    > Other English exercises on the same topic: How words are built [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Finals in -y and -ie - Vocabulary: making verbs - Vocabulary: words starting with self- - Means, results : a synthesis... - Forming adjectives from nouns - Words and suffixes - Prefixes 2 - Suffixes
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    Prefixes (1)


    Prefixes

     

    We use prefixes to change meaning. They never change the part of speech. (Most suffixes change the part of speech.)

    • Many prefixes give a word a meaning which is the opposite or negative of the original. For example, we can use the prefixes dis or un:

    dis + appear - disappear

    un + tie - untie

     

    prefix

    meaning / use

    example

    anti + adjective/noun

    oppositeanti- clockwise/ anti-climax
    anti + noun / adjectiveagainstanti-theft device / anti-European
    co + noun / verbtogethercohabit
    dis + verb

    negative/opposite

    dislike / disembark
    il + adjectiveoppositeillegal

    im + adjective

     opposite

    impossible

    in+adjective

    opposite

    indirect

    inter + adjective

    between

    intercontinental

    ir + adjective

    opposite

    irregular
    mis + verbwrongly/ badlymistook / mishandle

    over + verb

    too much

    overwork

    out + verb

    more

    outnumber

    post + noun / verb

    after

    postgraduate

    pre + noun / verb

    before

    pre- arrangement

    pro + noun / adjective

    in favour of

    pro-Unions / pro-European

    sub + adjective

    below

    substandard

    super + noun/ adjective

    greater than

    superhuman

    trans + noun / verb /

    acrosstransplant /transcontinental
    un + verb / adjective

    negative / opposite

    unlock / unhappy
    under + verb

    not enough/too little

    undercook / undercharge
     There are a few rules:

    • We use il instead of in with words that begin with l:

    il + legal = illegal

    • We use im instead of in with words that begin with m or p:

     im + polite - impolite

    • We often use ir instead of in with words that begin with r:

     ir + responsible = irresponsible.

     

    • Some common mistakes are:

    X You must unconnect the cables first.

    You must disconnect the cables first.

    X They expelled him for disbehaving.

    / They expelled him for misbehaving.

    • Note that many words with a prefix have a base part that never exists on its own. Here are examples: immediate, incontrovertible, uncalled-for




    Add a correct prefix to the following words.

     






    Twitter Share
    English exercise "Prefixes (1)" created by felin with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from felin]
    Click here to see the current stats of this English test

    Please log in to save your progress.


    1. polite.

    2. driver.

    3. approve.

    4. behave.

    5. logical.

    6. zip.

    7. inform.

    8. agree.

    9. eat.

    10. historic.










    End of the free exercise to learn English: Prefixes (1)
    A free English exercise to learn English.
    Other English exercises on the same topic : How words are built | All our lessons and exercises