11.1: Prefixes
- Page ID
- 36841
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Prefixes
A prefix is a word part added to the beginning of a word to create a new meaning.
The main rule to remember when adding a prefix to a word is not to add letters or leave out any letters.
Table of Prefixes
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
dis |
not, opposite of |
dis + satisfied = dissatisfied |
|
mis |
wrongly |
mis + spell = misspell |
|
un |
not |
un + acceptable = unacceptable |
|
re |
again |
re + election = reelection |
|
inter |
between |
inter + related = interrelated |
|
pre |
before |
pre + pay = prepay |
|
non |
not |
non + sense = nonsense |
|
super |
above |
super + script = superscript |
|
sub |
under |
sub + merge = submerge |
|
anti |
against, opposing |
anti + bacterial = antibacterial |
Exercise: Prefixes
Add the correct prefix to the word to complete each sentence.
- I wanted to ease my stomach ________comfort, so I drank some ginger root tea.
- Lenny looked funny in his ________matched shirt and pants.
- Penelope felt ________glamorous at the party because she was the only one not wearing a dress.
- My mother said those ________aging creams do not work, so I should not waste my money on them.
- The child's ________standard performance on the test alarmed his parents.
- When my sister first saw the meteor, she thought it was a ________natural phenomenon.
- Even though she got an excellent job offer, Cherie did not want to ________locate to a different country.
- With a small class size, the students get to ________act with the teacher more frequently.
- I slipped on the ice because I did not heed the ________cautions about watching my step.
- A ________combatant is another word for civilian.
Key Takeaways
Prefixes
- A prefix is a word part added to the beginning of a word that changes the word's meaning.
- A suffix is a word part added to the end of a word that changes the word's form or part of speech.
- Learning the meanings of prefixes and suffixes will help expand your vocabulary, which will help improve your spelling and your writing.