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Exploring prefixes
dis-
un-
inter-
il-
irpre-
mis-
sub-
antiClick the prefix you want to study
dis‘dis-’ has several
meanings one of which
is ‘not’
Type the correct
spelling into each box.
disatisfied / dissatisfied
When using the prefix
dis- simply attach it to
the root word!
disservice / diservice
disallow / dissallow
You don’t need to alter
the spelling.
I disconnected the television and
video cables so that I could move
them around the room.
Can you discover more words
starting with ‘dis’ in the
dictionary?
un‘un-’ has several
meanings one of which
is ‘not’
When using the prefix
un- simply attach it to
the root word!
You don’t need to alter
the spelling.
The ground was uneven
and so I tripped over.
Type the correct
spelling in each box.
unatural / unnatural
unnobtrusive / unobtrusive
uneven / unven
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘un’ in the
dictionary?
inter‘inter-’ has several
meanings one of which
is ‘between’
Add ‘inter-’ to these words. If
you are unsure of their
meanings then look them
up.
When using the prefix
‘inter-’ simply attach it to
the root word!
mediate
national
You don’t need to alter
the spelling.
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘inter’ in the
dictionary?
ilThe prefix ‘il-’ most often
means ‘not’
Type the correct
spelling in each box.
ilogical / illogical
When using the prefix
il- simply attach it to
the root word!
You don’t need to alter
the spelling.
illegitimate / ilegitimate
illegal / ilegal
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘il’ in the
dictionary?
ir‘ir-’ has several
meanings one of which
is ‘not’
When using the prefix
‘ir-’ simply attach it to
the root word!
You don’t need to alter
the spelling.
Type the correct
spelling in each box.
iregular / irregular
iresponsible / irresponsible
Use the dictionary to look up the
word irrational. Try to explain its
meaning and use it in a sentence
of your own.
pre‘pre-’ means ‘before’
Example: pre + view =
preview
I went to see a preview of
the latest action movie.
Add ‘pre-’ to the words inside the
boxes.
Look up their meaning in the
dictionary if you need to.
Write them into sentences to show
their meaning.
suppose
caution
(preview = advanced
showing)
Pre
view
occupied
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘pre-’ in the
dictionary?
mis‘mis-’ means ‘wrongly’ or
‘badly’
When adding ‘mis-’ as a
prefix there is no need to
change the spelling of the
root word.
e.g.
He was confused because
he misunderstood the
instructions.
Add ‘mis-’ to the words inside the
boxes.
Look up their meaning in the
dictionary if you need to.
Write them into sentences to show
their meaning.
read
understood
guided
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘mis-’ in the
dictionary?
sub‘sub-’ means ‘under’.
Example: sub + marine =
submarine.
•
•
•
Add ‘sub’ to the following words.
Look up their meaning in the
dictionary if you need to.
Write them into sentences to show
their meaning.
merge
(A submarine goes under
water).
culture
standard
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘sub-’ in the
dictionary?
anti‘anti-’ means ‘against’.
Example: anti + social =
antisocial.
•
•
•
Add ‘anti’ to the following words.
Look up their meaning in the
dictionary if you need to.
Write them into sentences to show
their meaning.
septic
(unsociable / opposed to the
community)
clockwise
body
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘anti-’ in the
dictionary?
What’s a prefix?
• A ‘prefix’ is part of a word that you can add
to the front of a ‘root’ word to change its
meaning.
Example:
prefix
+
un
+
root word =
happy
=
new word
unhappy
(not happy)