Antonyms
What is a negative prefix?
It’s a group of letters added to the
beginning of a word to form the word’s
opposite.
Examples:
unfriendly
impatient
incomplete
dishonest
irresponsible
illiterate
In pairs, think of other words
formed with negative prefixes.
UN
UNFORGETTABLE
UNACCEPTABLE
IM
IMPOLITE
IMMORTAL
IN
INSECURE
INDECISIVE
IR
IRREPLACEABLE
IRREGULAR
DIS
DISLOYAL
DISPLEASED
IL
ILLEGIBLE
ILLEGAL
Now, open your book to page 53
and try to come up with the
antonyms for the following words.
1.appropriate
2.courteous
3.excusable
4.imaginable
5.honest
6.pleasant
7.rational
8.mature
inapproriate
discourteous
inexcusable
unimaginable
dishonest
unpleasant
irrational
immature
Grouping by prefix
acceptable
considerate
excusable
responsible
proper
respectful
Dis
Im
honest
imaginable
appropriate
polite
mature
pleasant
In
Ir
courteous
rational
Un
Language note:
Many words starting with m- or p- form the
negative with the prefix im. Many words starting
with r- form their negative with the prefix ir-.
For example, immobile, impossible, irregular,
immortal, impatient, irrepleceable. There are
exceptions; for example, displeased,
disrespectful.
Test your memory! Student book - 53
Write your own examples of
inappropriate behavior.
Write your own examples of
inappropriate behavior. Use the
adjectives from Exercises D and E.
Example:
It’s inconsiderate to play loud music on
a bus.
Suggestions:
1. It’s disrespectful to talk back to your
parents.
2. It’s impolite to smoke in enclosed spaces.
3. It’s dishonest to cheat on a test.
4. It’s inconsiderate to use a cell phone in a
restaurant.
5. It’s unacceptable to litter on the street.
6. It’s discourteous to answer your cell
phone in class.