Common Prefixes
By Jorge Meza
Vocabulary
Root word (base word) –
a word with no prefixes or suffixes
Affixes group of letters in front of a word or at the end of a word used to change
the meaning of that word
Prefix –
a group of letters in front of a word that change the meaning of the word
Suffix –
a group of letters at the end of a word that change the meaning of the word
What is a prefix?
a group of letters that is added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning
Prefixes are put at the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
Common Prefixes
pre
ex
dis
un
anti
bi
re
mis
trans
pro
pre
pre - "before"
Lets go see the Spiderman preview!
pre + kindergarten = pre-kindergarten
pre + historic = prehistoric
pre + school = preschool
un
un - "not"
The movie was unbelievable!
un + available = unavailable
un + sure = unsure
un + aware = unaware
un + attractive = unattractive
un + popular = unpopular
dis
dis - "not"
You should never disrespect your teachers.
They are there to help you!
dis + satisfied = dissatisfied
dis + respect= disrespect
re
re - "again"
Will you please rearrange the desks?
re + cycle = recycle
re + fuel = refuel
re + charge = recharge
re + enter = reenter
bi
bi - "two"
All I want for my birthday is a bicycle!
bi + cycle = bicycle
bi + monthly = bimonthly
bi + lingual = bilingual
bi + focal = bifocal
trans
trans - "across"
Jackie is going on a transoceanic trip.
trans + oceanic = transoceanic
trans + port = transport
mis
mis - "not"
The public was misinformed about the toy sale.
mis + pronounce = mispronounce
mis + fire = misfire
mis + inform = misinform
anti
anti – "against "
Pass me the antibacterial soap.
I want to kill all the bacteria on my hands
anti + bacteria = antibacteria
anti + freeze = antifreeze
anti + biotic = antibiotic
anti + government = antigovernment
ex
ex - " previous"
George W. Bush will soon be our latest ex-president.
ex + wife = ex-wife
ex + landlord = ex-landlord
ex + president = ex-president
pro
pro - " in support of "
I am pro-family. I love my beautiful family.
pro + football = pro-football
pro + Mexican = pro-Mexican
pro + African = pro-African
More common prefixes
uni = one; unicycle; unicorn
bi = two; bicycle; bicentennial
tri = three; tricycle; triangle; triathlete
quad = four; quadrillion; quadruplets
Prefix Activity
http://www.tv411.org/lessons/cfm/vocabulary.cfm?str=vocabulary&n
um=1&act=1
The End