|
|
LECCION 42 - PAGINA 4
índice
del curso
página anterior
página siguiente |
|
|
Word formation |
|
|
PREFIXES |
New words can be made by putting
prefixes in front of other words. Prefixes are often
used to give adjectives a negative or an opposite
meaning. |
A familiarity with the meanings of prefixes is
really important for reading
comprehension and developing the skill of guessing unknown words.
This is particularly useful for Spanish-speaking
students. Some words are used with a hyphen (–);
therefore, we definitively encourage you to check
a dictionary if you are not sure. |
Now, pay close attention to these
five tips: |
1 |
a) IN– becomes IM– before words beginning with
B, M or P, e.g.
IMBALANCE,
IMMORAL,
IMPOSSIBLE.
b) IN– becomes IL– before
L, e.g.
ILLOGICAL.
c) IN– becomes IR– before
R, e.g.
IRRELEVANT.
d) The prefix IN– (and its variations)
does not always have a negative meaning and often it
gives the idea of 'inside' or 'into', e.g.
INTERNAL,
IMPORT,
INSERT,
INCOME. |
|
2 |
CO– may also be:
a) CON– e.g.
CONTEMPORARY.
b) COM– before B, M or
P, e.g..
COMPATRIOT.
c) COR– before R, e.g..
CORRELATE.
d) COL– before L, e.g..
COLLABORATE. |
|
3 |
It is important to point out that
there is a difference between the negative prefixes
UN– or IN– and
NON–:
a) UN– or IN–
suggests an opposite quality. e.g.
INHUMAN
(cruel treatment).
b) NON– suggests absence
of quality, e.g.
NONHUMAN
(bones). |
|
4 |
a) The prefixes UN–
and DIS– can also form the
opposites of verbs, e.g. TIE/
UNTIE,
APPEAR/DISAPPEAR,
etc.
b) These prefixes are used to reverse the action of
the verb. Here are some more examples:
UNDO,
UNDRESS,
DISLIKE,
DISAGREE. |
|
5 |
a) Both SUB–
and UNDER– have
the meaning of underneath:
SUBSOIL,
SUBCONSCIOUS,
UNDERCARPET,
UNDERLINE,
etc.
b) UNDER– also means 'lower
in rank', e.g.
UNDERSECRETARY,
while SUB– means 'a
small part of a larger thing', for example, in the
noun SUBCOMMITTEE.
c) UNDER– can also mean
'insufficient', e.g.
UNDERSPEND,
while SUB– means
'inferior', e.g.
SUBNORMAL. |
Now, study carefully the examples
in the following chart: |
MEANING |
PREFIX |
EXAMPLES |
opposite
/ not |
in– |
incorrect |
im– |
immature |
il– |
illegal |
ir– |
irresponsible |
dis– |
disagree |
non– |
non-smoking |
un– |
undemanding |
under |
sub– |
submarine |
under– |
underground |
not enough |
under– |
undercooked |
badly /
wrongly |
mis– |
misunderstand |
again
/ back |
re– |
rewind |
against |
anti– |
antibiotic |
in favour of |
pro– |
proponent |
together |
co– |
cooperate |
one, single |
mono– |
monologue |
two, twice |
bi– |
bilingual |
half |
semi– |
semicircular |
many |
multi– |
multimedia |
between |
inter– |
international |
before |
pre– |
prepaid |
former |
ex– |
ex-smoker |
middle |
mid– |
midnight |
across |
trans– |
transatlantic |
after |
post– |
postgraduate |
small |
mini– |
minibus |
very small |
micro– |
microwave |
false |
pseudo– |
pseudonym |
too much /
above |
over– |
oversleep |
bigger than
usual |
super– |
supermarket |
do better,
faster |
out– |
outlive |
to /
for oneself |
self– |
self-study |
of /
by oneself |
auto– |
autobiography |
|
You will be able to practise this grammar
about PREFIXES at the Exam Simulator in
Lesson 44 of this unit. |
|
|
MY USEFUL LINKS
/ MIS ENLACES UTILES |
|
|
|
Una lista impresionante, Mr.
Grammar. Pero, ¿cómo hacer para recordar todos estos prefijos?
En la próxima página retomarás la práctica de WRITING ... |
|
|
LECCION 42 - PAGINA 4
índice
del curso
página anterior
página siguiente |
|
|
|
|