Prefixes and Suffixes
Concept: Prefix Used to Write Opposite Words
Definition
- Prefix means a group of letters that is added at the beginning of a word to form a new word.
- Prefixes are also used to create opposite words or antonyms. Few prefixes are as follows: mis-, in-, dis-, ir- , im- , il-, un-
Examples:
- Mis + understand= Misunderstand
- In + correct= incorrect
- Dis +appear= disappear
Meaning of Prefixes :
Prefixes are used to make negative words like untidy, discomfort Let’s take a look at the meaning of a few prefixes.
- The prefix un - means ‘not’.
- The prefix dis- means ‘not or ‘the opposite of’.
- The prefix mis- means ‘a mistake’.
Example:
lock – unlock
Example:
obey – disobey
Example:
Use – Misuse
Uses of Prefixes:
- Prefixes are often used to give adjectives a negative meaning. Look at the examples given below with the meaning written in the brackets.
- kind (good-natured)) – unkind (rude to others)
- decent (respectable) – indecent (not appropriate)
- Prefixes are used to create opposites of verbs prefixes like in- and dis- can be seen
- appear – dis appear
- agree – dis agree
- approve -dis approve
- believe - dis believe
- connect-dis connect
- like - dis like
- Opposite words with the prefix ‘Dis’:
- Opposite words with the prefix ‘Im’
- Opposite words with the prefix ‘in’
- Opposite words with the prefix ‘Mis’
- Opposite words with the prefix ‘Un’
- Opposite words with the prefix ‘il’:
- Opposite words with the prefix ‘ir’:
- The prefix in- does not have a negative meaning always. It often means ‘inside’ or ‘into’, for instance, internal, income, and insert.
- The antonym of a word must be exactly the same part of the speech as that particular word.
- Adjective – Antonym – (good-bad)
- Verb – Antonym – (hate - love)
- Noun – Antonym – (strength-weakness)
- Do not forget to use im- before a word that starts with ‘m’ or ‘p’, e.g., immature, impatient, improbable.
- Similarly, ir- before a word that begins with ‘r’ and il- before a word that starts with ‘l’, for example, irreplaceable, illegal, illegible, illiterate, irreversible.
- Not all words starting with ‘dis’ are an antonym.
- Not all words starting with ‘im’ are an antonym.
Examples:
Examples:
Examples of common opposite words with prefix
Use – Misuse Advantage – Disadvantage
Main Word | Word with Prefix |
---|---|
Agree | Disagree |
Comfort | Discomfort |
Honest | Dishonest |
Appear | Disappear |
Honour | Dishonour |
Like | Dislike |
Main Word | Word with Prefix |
---|---|
Ability | Disability |
Appoint | Disappoint |
Belief | Disbelief |
Honest | Dishonest |
Connect | Disconnect |
Order | Disorder |
Satisfied | Dissatisfied |
Main Word | Word with Prefix |
---|---|
Patient | Impatient |
Movable | Immovable |
Moral | Immoral |
Balance | Imbalance |
Partial | Impartial |
Main Word | Word with Prefix |
---|---|
Mortal | Immortal |
Possible | Impossible |
Pure | Impure |
Polite | Impolite |
Probable | Improbable |
Mature | Immature |
Main Word | Word with Prefix |
---|---|
Active | Inactive |
Ability | Inability |
Effective | Ineffective |
Formal | Informal |
Efficient | Inefficient |
Attentive | Inattentive |
Justice | Injustice |
Complete | Incomplete |
Main Word | Word with Prefix |
---|---|
Accurate | Inaccurate |
Correct | Incorrect |
Decent | Indecent |
Direct | Indirect |
Equality | Inequality |
Attentive | Inattentive |
Sufficient | Insufficient |
Valid | Invalid |
Sane | Insane |
Main Word | Word with Prefix |
---|---|
Conduct | Misconduct |
Interpret | Misinterpret |
Lead | Mislead |
Manage | Mismanage |
Behave | Misbehave |
Main Word | Word with Prefix |
---|---|
Understand | Misunderstand |
Fortune | Misfortune |
Chief | Mischief |
Use | Misuse |
Main Word | Word with Prefix |
---|---|
Do | Undo |
Known | Unknown |
Usual | Unusual |
Wise | Unwise |
Pleasant | Unpleasant |
Fortunate | Unfortunate |
Common | Uncommon |
Able | Unable |
Avoidable | Unavoidable |
Main Word | Word with Prefix |
---|---|
Authorized | Unauthorized |
Kind | Unkind |
Fit | Unfit |
Conscious | Unconscious |
Clear | Unclear |
Necessary | Unnecessary |
Foreseen | Unforeseen |
Sure | Unsure |
Educated | Uneducated |
Main Word | Word with Prefix |
---|---|
Logical | Illogical |
Legal | Illegal |
Legible | Illegible |
Literate | Illiterate |
Main Word | Word with Prefix |
---|---|
Rational | Irrational |
Regular | Irregular |
Relevant | Irrelevant |
Reparable | Irreparable |
Replaceable | Irreplaceable |
Common Mistakes
Examples:
Exceptions:
Example:
distinguish means ‘to differentiate’.
I am unable to distinguish between the two.
Example:
impart means to convey or pass on.
It is a teacher’s job to impart knowledge to students.