Negative prefixes

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Negative prefixes

11. Thanks

10. Author

5. im- and in- prefixes

4. dis- and il- prefixes

9. Practice

8. Video

3. a- prefixes

7. un- prefixes

2. Definition

6. ir- and non- prefixes

1. Getting started

index

In English, one way to make negative statements is by adding negative prefixes to nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Here are some English negative prefixes: a–, dis–, il–, im–, in-, ir–, non–, un–. For example, the prefix un- can be attached to the adjective happy to create the negative adjective unhappy. Or you can use the negative adverb not. Note that there is no difference in meaning between these two forms. affirmative negative negative prefix not Tom is happy. Tom is unhappy. Tom is not happy.

Negative prefixes

What is a negative prefix?

A negative prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to form the word’s opposite. The most common negative prefixes in English are in-, un-, non-, de-, dis-, a-, anti-, im-, il-, and ir-. Some root words can take more than one negative prefix, but the meaning of the word is then different, depending on the negative prefix used. Words that take a– as a negative prefix always begin with a consonant. affirmative negative political apolitical sexual asexual

Words that take dis– as a negative prefix may begin with a vowel or a consonant. affirmative negative agree disagree comfort discomfort Words that take il– as a negative prefix always begin with the letter l. affirmative negative legal illegal legible illegible literate illiterate

Words that take im– as a negative prefix always begin with the letter m or p. affirmative negative moral immoral perfect imperfect Words that take in– as a negative prefix can begin with a vowel (except i or u) or a consonant. affirmative negative accurate inaccurate eligible ineligible organic inorganic sane insane Note: There are many words that begin with in– that are not words with a negative prefix. For example: word does not mean Incline not cline insist not sist

Words that take ir– as a negative prefix always begin with the letter r. affirmative negative rational irrational regular irregular Words that take non– as a negative prefix may begin with a vowel or a consonant. affirmative negative essential nonessential fiction nonfiction sense nonsense

Words that take un– as a negative prefix may begin with a vowel or consonant. affirmative negative able unable interesting uninteresting comfortable uncomfortable helpful unhelpful Remember, not all words that appear to have a negative prefix are negative. For example: word does not mean alike not like discuss not cuss universe not iverse

Vocabulary – Building Strategies

Grouping by prefix Grouping by prefix is a helpful vocabulary-building technique. You can group words by meaning or by part of speech. You can also group words by common prefix. Grouping the words, along with writing them in charts, will help you better remember them.

To sum up

Words: happily romantic true unite popular

Write your own examples with negative prefixes. Use the adjectives from Exercise 3. Page 144, Xplore12

presentation author's name

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Sílvia Ramadas

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