Lesson 5
Word Formation
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
r
prefix
meaning/ use
example
anti + adjective / noun
opposite
anti + noun /
adjective
co + noun/verb
against
anti-clockwise
anti-climax
anti-theft device
anti-European
co-worker
cohabit
dislike
disembark
illegal
impossible
indirect
intercontinental
irregular
mistook
mishandle
overdo
overwork
outnumber
postgraduate
pre-arrangement
pro-Unions
pro-European
substandard
superhuman
dis + verb
il + adjective
im + adjective
in + adjective
inter + adjective
ir + adjective
mis + verb
over + verb
out + verb
post + noun / verb
pre + noun / verb
pro + noun /
adjective
sub + adjective
super + noun/
adjective
trans + noun /
verb / adjective
un + verb /
adjective
under + verb
together
negative /
opposite
opposite
opposite
opposite
between
opposite
wrongly/
badly
too much
more
after
before
in favour of
below
greater than
across
negative /
opposite
not enough
too little
transplant
transcontinental
unlock
unhappy
undercook
undercharge
There are a few rules:
• We use il instead of in with words that begin with 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.
1
• Some common mistakes are:
X You must unconnect the cables first y You must disconnect the cables first. X They expelled him
for disbeliaving. / 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
I. Add a correct prefix to the following words. You may use your dictionary.
9 ......... inform
1 ......... dependent
18 …….national
2 ......... polite
10 ......... agree
19 …….sleep
3 ......... do
11 ......... eat
20 …….relevant
4 ......... driver
12 ……..historic
21 ……believe
5 ......... approve
13 …….Atlantic
22 …..crowded
6 ......... behave
14 ……..behaving
23 …….understand
7 ......... logical
15 ……..moral
24 ….…natal
16 …….hear
8 ......... zip
17 ……. interpret
II. Complete the crossword with the correct prefixes.
Across
1
This prefix +
8 The opposite of
words that begin with
responsible is
l means 'not'.
.... responsible.
2 The ..... -Siberian
railway
goes
9 If you ..... -date
from
cheque, you write a later
Moscow to Vladivostock.
3 5 Never
a
date on it.
estimate
12 We use this prefix
the time you need to
meaning
study for the exam.
front of words that
7 We use this prefix to
mean 'in favour of’.
8 The opposite of
Down
begin with m.
train from Paris to Warsaw.
3 Do you believe in the .natural?
..... humane.
4 ......exist means 'to exist at the same
..... qualified for the
in
1 Take the .... continental express
humane is
10 They told me I am
'not'
time'.
5 . The opposite of familiar is
2
job.
... .familiar.
11 ...... -European
6 The boys .... appeared as soon as they
protesters gathered round
saw the farmer coming.
the embassy.
13 This prefix means
Type the prefixes in
'wrongly' or 'badly'.
(in blue)
III. Add a prefix to the correct form of the word at the end of each line and use the
word in the space on the same line. The first (0) is given as an example.
Attempts to communicate in a foreign language can easily (0) misfire.
fire
I'm always (1) ............ by my attempts to get speak Greek.
appoint
The waiter on Mykonos (2) .......... what I wanted and instead
understand
of beetroots brought me mushrooms. I (3) .......... mushrooms intensely
like
but when I asked him to (4) ............them with beetroots he smiled,
place
went into the kitchen and (5) ........... with a plateful of aubergines.
turn
He also (6) ............ my friendly attitude towards everyone I meet
take
and when I complained that they had (7) .......... the meat,
cook
Manuel (that was his name if I'm not (8) ........... ) grinned and
take
twirled his moustache. To cap it all, I (9).......... the bill and accused
read
the poor man of (10) ............ me! It was just my awful Greek again.
charge
Part 2
We have seen (see Part 1) that 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 negative of the original. Examples are dis,
in, un. Other prefixes change meaning in different ways, for example: multi + ethnic = multiethnic (= made up of
many different ethnic groups)
Here are some more prefixes:
Prefix
de + verb / noun
de + verb
de + verb
ex+ noun
macro- noun
micro + noun
mini+ noun
mono+ noun
multi + noun /
Meaning / Use
opposite
remove
reduce
previous
large
very small
small
one
Example
decentralise
debone
devalue
ex-husband
macroeconomics
microelectronics
mini hi-fi
monolingual
3
adjective
semi + noun /
adjective
semi + adjective
sub+ noun
sub+ noun
many
multipurpose
half
partly
under
less/lower
semicircle
semiliterate
subterranean
subcommittee
IV. Add a prefix from the list opposite to the words (1-20). You will use each prefix more than once. Then
write down the meaning of the new word. You can use your dictionary. You can give an equivalent in
Russian instead.
Example: escalate de-escalate means to remove or reduce the amount o f fighting
de
1.final
ex
mini
micro
mono
multi
semi
sub
means ……
2.partner
means……
3. standard
means……
4. national
means……
5. section
means……
6. bus
means……
7 caffeinated ................... means……
8 ethnic
...........means……
9 zero
...........means……
10 regulate
...........means……
11 plot
...........means……
12 wife
...........means……
13 nationalise
.................. means…
14 biology
.......... means………
15 rail
.......... means………
16 skirt
.......... means………
17 soil
.......... means………
18 chip
.......... means………
19 code
.......... means………
20 darkness
.......... means………
V. Underline the correct word A, B, C or B to fill the spaces in the sentences.
1. I'm not sure what the doctor wrote - it's almost .........
A inlegible
B illegible
C legible
D illegal
2. If she left me, life would be...........
4
A unbearable
B debearable
C subbearable
D non-bearable
3. If only I hadn't married so young - I was very ...... at the time.
A inmature
B immature
C mature
D unmature
4. The examiners remove marks for ....... words, don't they?
A unspelt
B semi-spelt
C under-spelt
D misspelt
5. Wear what you like - we're pretty........in this office.
A formal
B informal
C unformal
D deformal
6. Unless you ............ the fish first, your guests won't enjoy it.
A semi-bone
B unbone
C pre-bone
D debone
7. I think the Government should ........... the post office.
A denationalise
B unnationalise
C disnationalise
D
innationalise
8. I wish my ..............and I were still on speaking terms.
A ex-partner
B pre-partner
C non-partner
D departner
9. Use this .............tool and you'll do an excellent job.
A macropurpose B monopurpose
C micropurpose
D multipurpose
10. Let's form a............and do something about the poor state of the common.
A subcommittee B anti-committee
C multi-committee D undercommittee
VI. Use the word given at the end of each line to form a word that fits the gap in the same line.
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
The Government has decided to take the (1) .....decision to ban
POPULAR
smoking in a lot of public places. Though a lot of people find smoking
(2) ........................... , and though experts all agree it is
PLEASE
(3) .............. and that it costs the state a lot to treat victims of
HEALTH
smoking, it is also (4) ............ that many people get
DENY
pleasure from the habit and find smoking (5) .......... when they
RESIST
are in company. However, it is now (6) ............ .. to deny the antisocial
POSSIBLE
nature of the habit. As advertising has proved (7) ......... with many
EFFECT
smokers, the Government has now made smoking (8) .......... in most
LAW
public places.
Smokers who are (9) ........... to stop smoking will be obliged enjoy their
ABILITY
pastime in private and may feel the new measures are (10) ........ , but for
JUSTICE
passive smokers for whom a room full of smoke is (11) ......... they
BEAR
will come as a breath of fresh air.
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