Curso First Certificate Exam

LOS CURSOS DE INGLES GRATIS PREFERIDOS POR LOS HISPANOHABLANTES

 

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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 ...
 

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