In English great amount prefixes that create the reverse, negative form the words. If in Russian we can usually get by with a universal prefix not- (washed - not washed, large not large), then in English, alas, you have to choose between a large number of options. Moreover, it is impossible to shuffle words and prefixes "anyhow", each word corresponds to only one of its own: happy - un happy, agree dis agree, etc.
How did it happen? Most of the prefixes that we will now consider are not English in origin, but were borrowed into the language along with the "positive" form of the word from Latin or French.
What to do with it? Unfortunately, there are no absolute 100% working rules for negative prefixes. But there are certain patterns that will help you choose the right prefix, at least by the method of elimination!
1) a-
This prefix is used quite rarely and is attached only to words that begin with a consonant:
| original word |
word with negation |
|
political /[pal'ital] political, pertaining to politics |
political [ˌeɪpəˈlɪtɪk(ə)l]/[eipel`itikel] apolitical, not interested in politics |
|
[ˈmɒrəl]/[`morel] Conforming to moral standards |
[ˌeɪˈmɒrəl] / [eimʻorel] immoral, out of morality |
|
symmetrical /[symmetric] Symmetric; one with even halves |
asymmetric [æsɪˈmɛtrɪk] / [esym`etrik] asymmetrical, with uneven halves |
2) dis-
Prefix dis- can join both words that begin with a vowel and words that start with a consonant. Some words with it exist in Russian as well (discomfort, disorientation).
| original word |
word with negation |
|
[əˈgriː] / [egr`i] agree, be of the same opinion |
disagree [ˌdɪsəˈgriː] / [dysegr] disagree, have a different opinion |
|
[ˈkʌmfət] / [to`amphet] comfort, convenience |
discomfort /[disk`amphet] discomfort, uncomfortable and unusual state |
|
/[can`act] unite |
disconnect [ˌdɪskəˈnɛkt] / [disken`ekt] disconnect, disconnect |
|
[ˈɒnɪst]/[ʻonist] honest, telling the truth |
dishonest /[display] dishonest, lying |
|
/[risp`ect] |
disrespect [ˌdɪsrɪsˈpɛkt] / [disrisp`ekt] disrespect |
|
[əˈbeɪ] / [ebʻey] obey rules, orders, etc. |
[ˌdɪsəˈbeɪ] / [disebʻey] disobey, disobey a rule, order, etc. |
3) il-
Il- joins only words that themselves begin with l-. For example:
| original word |
word with negation |
|
legal [ˈliːgəl]/[l'igel] lawful, legal |
[ɪˈliːgəl] / [il'igel] illegal, going against the law |
|
[ˈlɛʤəbl]/[l'edgebl] legible, readable (of text, handwriting) |
illegal [ɪˈlɛʤəbl] / [il'edgeble] illegible, unreadable (of text, handwriting) |
|
literate [ˈlɪtərɪt] / [l`iterit] |
illiterate [ɪˈlɪtərɪt] / [ilʻiterit] |
|
[ˈlɒʤɪkəl] / [l'ojikel] logical, logical |
illogical [ɪˈlɒʤɪkəl] / [il'ojikel] illogical, defying logic |
4) im-
Im- used only with words beginning with m- or p-:
| original word |
word with negation |
|
/[m`eyche] acting sensibly like an adult |
immature [ˌɪməˈtjʊə] / [im`eyche] acting childish, out of age |
| patient [ˈpeɪʃənt] / [p`eyshent] patient, waiting |
impatient [ɪmˈpeɪʃənt] / [imp `eyshent] impatient |
|
[ˈpɜːfɪkt] / [pʻefikt] ideal |
imperfect [ɪmˈpɜːfɪkt] / [imp ʻefkit] deficient |
|
possible [ˈpɒsəbl] / [pʻosebl] possible; one that can happen or happen |
impossible [ɪm ˈpɒsəbl] / [impʻosebl] Impossible; one that cannot happen or happen |
|
practical [ˈpræktɪkəl]/[pr'ektikel] practical, relevant to real life |
impractical [ɪmˈpræktɪkəl] / [impr`ektikel] impractical, out of touch with reality |
|
[ˈprɒpə] / [prʻope] decent, conforming to social norms |
improper [ɪmˈprɒpə] / [impr`ope] indecent, contrary to social norms |
5) in-
In- occurs with words that begin with any consonant or any vowel (except i and u):
| original word |
word with negation |
|
accurate [ˈækjʊrɪt]/[`ekyurit] accurate, true |
inaccurate [ɪnˈækjʊrɪt] / [in`ekyurit] imprecise, approximate |
| complete /[camplet] completed, completed |
incomplete [ˌɪnkəmˈpliːt]/[incamp]it] unfinished |
|
[ˈɛdɪbl] / [ʻedible] edible |
inedible [ɪnˈɛdɪbl] / [in'edible] inedible |
|
/[s`ane] sane, sane |
insane [ɪn ˈ seɪn]/[ins`ein] crazy, mentally ill |
Note that there are quite a few a large number of cases where in- is not an attached prefix, but a full part of the word! For example:
- insist([ɪnˈsɪst]/[ins`ist]), "insist on doing something"
- introduce([ˌɪntrəˈdjuːs]/[intrad'yus]), "to introduce, to acquaint"
- invoke([ɪnˈvəʊk]/[invʊok]), "appeal, call for the use of some law, rule, etc."
Do not confuse these cases with the "collapsible" words from the examples above! Words like "troduce" or "sist" don't exist!
6) ir-
The prefix ir- is attached only to words that themselves begin with r-:
| original word |
word with negation |
|
rational [ˈræʃənl] / [rʻeyshenl] rational, reasonable, common sense |
irrational [ɪˈræʃənl] / [irʻeyshenl] |
| regular [ˈrɛgjʊlə] / [r'egyule] regular, repetitive |
irregular [ɪˈrɛgjʊlə] / [ir'egyule] irregular, not following a clear pattern |
|
relevant [ˈrɛlɪvənt] / [r`elivent] relevant, important |
irrelevant [ɪˈrɛlɪvənt] / [ir'elivent] irrelevant, unimportant |
|
responsible /[risp`onsible] responsible |
irresponsible [ˌɪrɪsˈpɒnsəbl] / [irisp'onsible] Not Responsible |
There is an important exception here: the frequently used word reliable(/[ril`aiable] "reliable") is negative with un-: unreliable([ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbl ]/[anril`ayebl] "unreliable").
7) non-
non-- one of the most used negative prefixes. She joins various words, regardless of what they begin with.
| original word |
word with negation |
|
essential [ɪˈsɛnʃəl] / [is ` enshel] obligatory, necessary |
non-essential [ˈnɒnɪˈsɛnʃəl] / [non is'enshel] irrational, not based on logic |
| fiction [ˈfɪkʃən]/[fiction] Fiction; fiction about fictional people and events |
non-fiction /[non-f`ikshen] documentary literature; literature without fiction: about what really happened |
|
/[sense] meaning; meaning of a word or interpretation (understanding) of a concept or idea |
nonsense [ˈnɒnsəns] / [n'onsens] nonsense, nonsense; information that we believe to be false |
|
specific /[list`ifik] specific, specific |
non-specific /[non-list iffic] General, not related to anything specific |
8) un-
Like non-, prefix un- can be attached to both words for vowels and words for consonants. The most common un- is for words that end in - ed or - able: you can add this prefix to them with confidence!
| original word |
word with negation |
|
[ˈeɪbl]/[able] capable of doing something |
unable [ʌnˈeɪbl]/[an`able] unable to do something |
| believable /[bil`iveable] Plausible; the one you can believe |
unbelievable
[ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl ]/[anbil'iveble] incredible |
|
comfortable [ˈkʌmfətəbl] / [k`amphetable] |
uncomfortable [ʌnˈkʌmfətəbl]/[ank`amphetable] inconvenient |
|
forgettable /[fag`etable] having nothing special; |
unforgettable [ˌʌnfəˈgɛtəbl] / [anfeg'etable] Unforgettable |
|
/[cuct] cooked (of food) |
uncooked [ʌnˈkʊkt]/[ank`ukt] raw, uncooked (of food) |
|
prepared /[app`head] ready for some action |
unprepared [ˌʌnprɪˈpeəd] / [anprip`ead] not ready to take any action |
|
required /[riku`ayed] required |
unrequired [ˌʌnrɪˈkwaɪəd]/[`anriquayed] one that is not required |
However, to meet un
real, pertaining to reality
[ʌnˈrɪəl] / [anr`iel]
unreal, unrealistic
As you already understood, all the above remarks are rather vague. Unfortunately, in most cases, the negative form of the word has to be memorized along with the positive: reliable - unreliable, complete - incomplete etc. Try to read and listen more: when you accumulate some practical experience, something like "uncomplete" or "disreliable" will start to sound crazy to you :).
But what to do in a critical situation, when you urgently need to remember the negative form, and you are not sure about the prefix?
If this happens, there is a lifesaver: do not use the prefix at all. Instead, the usual construction with not may well be suitable. Compare:
This is il logical!
This is not logical!
This is illogical!
Tom is a very un reliable person.
Tom is absolutely not a reliable person.
Tom is completely unreliable.
I feel un comfortable in these shoes.
I don't feel comfortable in these shoes.
I feel uncomfortable in these shoes.
There is no difference in meaning here: negative constructs with not is a successful substitute for words with negative prefixes.
I hope the article helped you a little in mastering the English prefixes. Remember that, as elsewhere, the main thing here is practice! :) Read, listen, pay attention to what words are used with what prefixes. And most importantly: use them yourself!
Let's continue with vocabulary. Consider a couple more prefixes that can be found in irregular verbs, and not only them.
Prefix MIS - has only one meaning = NOT AS IT SHOULD be, i.e wrong and false. It comes from the English verb to miss = to miss, to miss. And now Latin = minus. This is all that is embedded in the MIS prefix values. It is added mainly to verbs and nouns.
A few examples:
MIS + to place = place, put in place - to MISplace = put, put in the wrong place;
MIS + to lead = lead, be ahead - to MISlead = mislead, lead aside;
MIS + chance (n) = chance, chance - MISchance(n) = failure, accident;
MIS + to behave = behave (about behavior and manners) - to MISbehave = bad, misbehave;
MIS + fortune (n) = luck, happiness, fate, fortune - MISfortune (n) misfortune, misfortune;
MIS + to lay = put, put - to MISlay = put in the wrong place;
MIS + to spell = spell and spell - to MIS-spell = write with spelling errors;
MIS + step (n) = step, step, measure = MIS-step(n) = incorrect, false step, error;
MIS + to understand = understand - MISunderstand = misunderstand;
MIS + count (n) = count - MIScount = miscalculation.
I would like to say about the verb to MIStake - to make mistakes, misunderstand, be mistaken. The root of this verb is the well-known verb to take = to take, take. It would seem, how to put together "take" and "err"? But everything is very simple: the verb “to take” is very ambiguous and one of its figurative meanings is = to understand,. count and believe. Then everything converges:
There is also a noun MIStake (n) = mistake, misunderstanding, delusion.
The IN prefix is a special, “changing” prefix, since it changes the consonant letter N to letters M, L R (IM, IL, IR), depending on which letter the word to which it is added begins with. Let's encode these three letters for memorization: MALyaR. In addition, remember:
before the letter “L” the prefix IN = IL; that is, we get a double letter “L”, for example: iLLusion, iLLegal, iLLuminate;
before the letter “R” the prefix IN =IR; that is, we get a double letter “R”, for example: iRREgular, iRResponsible, iRRevelant;
before the letters “P”, “M”, “B” the prefix IN =IM , that is, a double letter “M” and combinations of the letters “MP” and MB are obtained, for example: iMMortal, iMProve, iMBalance. To memorize three consonants letters P,M,B I code: Pumba.
If you open a dictionary with the letter “I” and look up words that begin with the letters IN, IR, IM, IMB, IMP (and there are a lot of such words), then almost all of them are prefixed. Having learned one root word and adding a prefix to it, you will automatically understand two words, and taking into account suffixes, this number doubles, triples. four times ... etc.
Now consider the meaning of the IN prefix.
The IN prefix has two meanings:
1. Completely absorbs the meaning of the preposition of place “IN” = in, inside; with the same translation. In this meaning, the IN prefix does not always change its consonant "N". A few examples:
IN + sight - INsight (n) = insight, insight, intuition;
IN + come - INcome (n) = income, income, earnings;
IN + deed - INdeed (adv) = really, really;
IN + born - INborn IMborn (adj) = congenital;
IN + to lay - INlay \u003d invest, line;
IN + to put - INput = enter;
IN + to set - INset = insert, nest;
IN + to press - IMpress = to impress, to impress;
IN + to breethe - INbreethe = to inhale;
IN + cut - INcut(n) = cut;
IN + land = INland (n) = inland part of the land away from the sea.
2. IN prefix is NEGATIVE. This is an analogue of the UN prefix. Translated: NOT or WITHOUT.
IN + moral - IMMoral = immoral;
IN + delicate - INdelicate = indelicate, tactless;
IN + comparable - INcomparable = incomparable;
IN + patient - IMpatient = impatient;
IN + convenient - INconvenient = uncomfortable;
IN + logical - ILLogical = illogical;
IN + different - INdifferent = indifferent;
IN + action - INaction = inaction;
IN + ability - INability = inability;
IN + curable - INcurable = incurable.
The formation of words can occur with the help of prefixes, which, although they change the meaning of words, do not change their belonging to one or another part of speech. Many consoles have their own eigenvalue and as a result, they are percussion. There are no prefixes specific to any part of speech in English.
anti-fascist - anti-fascist
anti-aircraft - anti-aircraft
to counter act - to counteract
dis obedient - naughty
dis order - mess
dis honest - dishonest
dis appear - disappear
ex-champion - ex-champion
to en large - increase, make large
to en circle - surround, make a circle
fore head - forehead
inter national - international
il legal - illegal
il literate - illiterate
im mortal - immortal
im balance - instability
im parity - inequality
in consistent - incompatible
in definite - indefinite; unclear; indifferent
in dependence - independence
ir responsible - irresponsible
ir relevant - unsuitable; irrelevant
ir regular - incorrect; irregular
to mis understand - misunderstand
non-alcoholic - non-alcoholic
non-essential - not essential
to over pay - overpay
over-active - overactive
to over-estimate - overestimate
post-war - post-war
pre historic - prehistoric
sub-tropical - subtropical
sub marine - underwater
sub way - subway, metro
super natural - supernatural
to super charge - overload
trans atlantic - transatlantic
trans national - international
to re write - rewrite
to re do - remake
to un do - undo what has been done; destroy
un able - unable uncomfortable - uncomfortable
ultra-modern - ultra-modern
ultra violet - ultraviolet
to under estimate - underestimate
under ground - undergroundviolet - ultraviolet
According to our analytics, Lingualeo students often choose . You have good taste, friends! 🙂 After all, to know exactly how new words are created, to isolate English prefixes and suffixes means to endlessly expand your vocabulary and begin to understand the very logic of the language.
Therefore, I propose to devote a number of articles to word formation English words. Specifically, today we will discuss the most common prefixes.
Just in case, I’ll clarify: the prefix is the same as the prefix.
As a preface: word formation in English
New words in any language created from existing elements(words and their stems, prefixes and suffixes) according to existing models word formation.
So, in the Russian language, a rather productive model for the formation of diminutive words with the help of suffixes -ok-, -ik-, -points- and etc.
Home homeik , gnome - gnomeik , raft - raftik etc.
This method is called affixation (the formation of words using prefixes and / or suffixes).
The most productive ways of word formation in English are:
- affixation: peace (n. peace) => peaceful (adj. peaceful),
- wording: bedroom = bed + room,
- conversion (transition from one part of speech to another: hand => to hand).
Knowing the features of each of these methods, you can intuitively understand unfamiliar words(if there is at least some familiar element in them) and create new words based on the units in your vocabulary.
Learn to assemble the whole from the parts
What are prefixes in English
The formation of new words with the help of prefixes is very productive way in English. A prefix adds a new or additional meaning to the meaning of a word. For example, a negative prefix cancels / contrasts, etc. what is named at the root of the word: beautiful - not handsome, attractive un attractive.
I will note a number of features in English, in comparison with Russian:
- In Russian, prefixes never change part of speech., but only add a new meaning to the word (run - run - run), while in English some prefixes are able to create a word of a different part of speech: robe-todis robe (robe - undress), wit - toout wit (wit - outwit).
- Where our verbs use prefixes to create additional meaning, English verbs can use prepositions as part of phrasal verb: go -in go -you go; to go - to goin – to goout .
Now consider types of prefixes in English and the rules for their use. Let's follow the logic suggested by:
- separately consider negative prefixes,
- then let's talk about international prefixes (they are in different languages),
- and then about purely English prefixes.
Negative prefixes in English
There are a lot of them in English, and they can be used with words of absolutely any part of speech. Any Not every set-top box has rules of use. Moreover, no rule is immune from exceptions ...
Therefore, the recipe for literacy is as follows: we learn English prefixes (with examples and rules of use), but periodically check the word of interest in the dictionary 🙂
anti- (= anti, against)
This prefix is usually attached to the word with a hyphen:
anti -abortion (against abortion),anti -fascism (anti-fascism).
But there are a large number of exceptions:
anti social (antisocial), anti hero (antihero), anti virus (antivirus)
dis- (= not, re, without)
Prefix dis- more often all used:
- with adjectives and participles: dis advantageous (unprofitable);dis organized (unorganized);dis loyal (disloyal),dis agreeable (nasty, unpleasant);
- with words beginning with a pronounced -h-: dis harmonious (inharmonious),dis heartened (dull);dis honest (dishonest);
- with some words starting with a consonant: dis passionate (passionate),dis respectful (disrespectful);
- with nouns and verbs: to dissatisfy (not satisfy),dis ability (disability), todis appear (disappear),dis placement (permutation, displacement).
contra- (= against/about)
tocontra dict (contrast),contra band (smuggling),contra lateral (contralateral)
de-/di- (=remove, cancel)
tode regulate (deregulate), tode value (devalue), tode bug (debug).
in- (= not, without)
Most often used:
- before the combination of letters -as-: in accurate (inaccurate);in active (inactive);
- before consonant -s-: in coherent (incoherent);in capable (incapable).
Exceptions:informal (informal); inarticulate (indistinct).
il- (= not)
Used with words beginning with the consonant -l-. The rule applies almost without exception, since it is much easier for a native speaker to use a prefix that is consonant with the beginning of the word root.
il legal (illegal),il logical (illogical);il legible (illegible)
im- (= not)
Used with words starting with -p- in the same way as the previous example. The fact is that articulatory sounds -m- and -p- are formed quite similarly, so pronouncing the combination -mp- is quite easy:
im polite (impolite);im personal (impersonal),im possible (impossible).
Also used with words starting with -m-:
im mature (immature)im modest (immodest)
ir- (= not)
Used with words starting with -r-:
ir regular (irregular),ir responsible (irresponsible);ir replaceable (irreplaceable).
ig- (= not)
ig noble (ignoble)
mal- (= bad, wrong)
mal practice (wrong professional behavior),mal adjusted (unadapted).
mis- (= wrong, erroneous, wrong)
mis fortune (failure), tomis speak (speak with errors), tomis dial (dial the wrong number)
non- (= not, without)
Can be used as with a hyphen: non -profit (non-profit, non-commercial), and without it: non sacred (non-sacred).
un- (= not)
A very common plugin. Most often it is used:
- before vowels in adjectives and participles: un equal (unequal),un usable (unusable);
- before consonants: un desirable (unwanted), un happy(unhappy),un welcoming (unfriendly);
- when added to verbs, the prefix un- usually changes their meaning to the opposite: toun chain (release), toun lock (unlock, open).
under- (= under, not enough)
under paid (little paid, underpaid),under developed (underdeveloped)
International prefixes in English
These consoles you can meet in different languages, including Russian. This happens because languages borrow words from each other or from a common source - Latin.
auto- (= auto, itself)
auto biography (autobiography),auto matic (automatic),auto nomy (autonomy)
bi- (=two)
bi polar (bipolar),bi cycle (bike) ,bi ped (bipedal)
co- (=co)
toco operate (cooperate), toco habit (to cohabitate).
inter- (=between)
inter national (international),inter penetrate (interpenetrate)
multi- (=many)
multi national (multinational),multi cultural (multicultural),multi storey (multi-storey)
post- (=after)
post natal (postpartum),post script (postscript after the text)
super- (=super, above)
super market (supermarket),super star (superstar)
trans- (= trans, through)
trans atlantic (transatlantic),trans form (transformation)
uni- (=uni)
uni form (uniform),uni sex (unisex)
What do prefixes mean in English
Purely English prefixes you will not see in Russian. More precisely, we can meet a loan word with them (for example, on line with the prefix on-). But this prefix will not be productive for our language (that is, it does not participate in the formation of new Russian words).
by- (=by the way, next to…)
by product (by-product),by road (bypass, country road)
con-/com-/-col-/cor- (=with, together)
con junction (connection), tocom mingle (mix),col league (colleague),cor relation (correlation)
down- (down, completely)
down load (download),down pour (rain)
for- (= away, vice versa)
tofor get (forget), tofor swear (to renounce)
fore- (=before)
fore arm (forearm),fore fathers (ancestors)
forth- (=forward)
forth coming (coming),forth right (straight)
in- (= inside, inside)
This is a homonymous prefix for negative in-. Example: input (inside).
male- (=evil)
male volence (ill will),male diction (curse)
off- (= away, separately)
off center (off-center),off line (not connected)
on- (=in progress)
on line (online, in touch),on coming (approaching)
out- (=more than, out, out)
toout perform (to surpass),out board (outboard)
over- (=over, "too much")
Words with the prefix over: toover sleep (oversleep), toover come (overcome)
re- (=again, re)
tore write (rewrite),re run (replay)
Of course, these are not all prefixes of the English language, but only the most common ones.
Meeting place can not be Changed
Well, we figured out the theory! Those who want to practice - welcome to, in which you will find exercises for prefixes in English.
Next time we will look at English suffixes. See you on the blog! 🙂
There are a number of negative prefixes in English - negative prefixes. Today we'll talk about them. After passing the theory on negative prefixes (negative prefixes exercises) in order to better assimilate the material.
The most commonly used negative prefixes in English are:
in- , un- , im- , il- , ir- , non- , de- , dis- , mis- , a- , anti-
The bad news is that the use of prefixes, like other moments of word formation in the English language, is difficult to interpret by rules, and therefore, basically, you will have to rely on your memory and perseverance. Yet there are some rules, replete with exceptions, and regarding negative prefixes.
Let's start and systematically study negative suffixes for different parts speech.
Negative prefixes of English adjectives.
|
Prefix |
Meaning and usage |
|
|
Negative prefix. With its help, the bulk of negative adjectives is formed. |
|
|
|
A prefix with a negative meaning, which is mainly used before ac/c |
Exceptions: indefinite, inevitable, infinite, inflexible, informal, insecure, insignificant, invalid, invariable, invisible, involuntary. |
|
|
Only used before l. |
Exception: disloyal |
|
|
Used only before r. |
|
|
|
Used before p, rarely before m. |
|
|
|
Cases of using dis- must be remembered |
|
|
|
Cases of using non- must be remembered |
|
Pay attention to the spelling of words with the prefix non-. Most of them have two spellings (with and without a hyphen):
Non-existent or non-existent.
However, some are written only without a hyphen - such as, for example, non-metallic. That is why I still tend to write without a hyphen in all cases to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
Negative prefixes of English verbs.
|
Prefix |
Meaning and usage |
|
|
Very rarely used with verbs. Meaning "remove" |
|
|
|
A negative prefix that often remains in Russian (de-) or is translated as “raz-”. |
|
|
|
Negative prefix, often translated as "not" or "des". |
|
|
|
It means "wrong". |
|
Negative prefixes of English nouns.
The negative prefix de has nouns formed from verbs with de-:
deflation, decomposition, deactivation, decontamination
The prefix dis has nouns formed from verbs or adjectives with the prefix dis.
Disability, disagreement, disbelief, disinfection, disintegration, disloyalty, displeasure, distaste, distrust
In- (il-, im-, ir-)
These prefixes have nouns derived from the corresponding adjectives.
illiteracy, immaturity, imperfection, impossibility, inaccessibility, inaccuracy, inappropriateness, incapability, incompatibility, inconsistency, infinity, inflexibility, insecurity, insufficiency, invalidity, invisibility, irrationality, irregularity, irresponsibility.
The negative prefix mis has nouns formed from verbs with this prefix:
Misconduct, misdiagnosis, misinformation, misinterpretation, misspelling, mistake, mistrust, misunderstanding
The negative prefix non is typical for singular nouns:
nonconformist / nonconformity, nonexistence, nonintervention, nonsense
The negative prefix un has nouns formed from adjectives with the prefix un:
unawareness, uncertainty, unpleasantness, unpredictability
Negative prefixes - exercises.
Let's practice using negative prefixes a bit.
Exercise 1. Form negative nouns with un- , in- , dis- , mis- , de-
- honesty,
- certainty,
- security,
- dependence,
- Importance,
- employment,
- connections,
- activation,
- Belief,
- Ability
Exercise 2. Add negative prefixes to the following adjectives.
- an __friendly look
- an __interesting book
- an __natural color
- an __important task
- an __possible answer
- an __personal letter
- an __definite article
- an __correct answer
- __direct speech
- an __regular verb
- an __responsible person
Exercise 3. Form negative adjectives using un- or in-
Happy, lucky, attentive, capable, comfortable, known, dependent, clean, necessary, pleasant, expensive, human, popular, expressive, definite, real, countable, direct, convenient, accurate
Exercise 4. Replace phrases with one word
Example: not countable - uncountable
- Not necessary -
- not safe-
- Not tidy-
- not breakable-
- Not regular-
- not real-
- Not expensive-
- not happy-
- not possible-
- Not usual-
- Not comfortable
- not direct-
- Not interesting-
- not patient-
- Not convenient-
- Not popular-
Exercise 5 Fill in the table according to the sample.
Adjectives: useful, doubtful, expensive, correct, clean, interesting, natural, healthy, important, polite.
artificial, rude, dirty, cheap, wrong, boring, sick, insignificant
Exercise 6
Choose the correct prefix to make negative forms of the adjectives.
1) He was short and overweight and generally fairly __attractive.
2) He's a good teacher, but tends to be a bit __patient with slow learners.
- a) un-; b) in-; c) im-; d) dis-.
3) It is an __logical statement, because if one part is true, then the other must be false.
- a) dis-; b) il-; c) in-; d) un-.
4) It is __ polite to point at people.
- a) dis-; b) im-; c) in-; d) un-.
5) My friend is very __responsible, he never does anything in time.
6) He's very __patient. He can't work as a teacher.
- a) dis-; b) im-; c) in-; d) un-.
7) He's an __forgiving person. He never forgives people.
- a) dis-; b) ir-; c) in-; d) un-.
Answers:
- dishonesty,
- Uncertainty,
- security,
- independence,
- Unimportance,
- Unemployment
- connection,
- deactivation,
- disbelief,
- an unfriendly look
- an uninteresting book
- an unnatural color
- an unimportant task
- an impossible answer
- an impersonal letter
- an indefinite article
- an incorrect answer
- indirect speech
- an irregular verb
- an irresponsible person
UN + Happy, lucky, comfortable, known, clean, necessary, pleasant, popular, real, countable
IN + Attentive, capable, dependent, expensive, human, expressive, definite, direct, convenient, accurate
1 unnecessary, 2 unsafe, 3 untidy, 4 unbreakable, 5 irregular, 6 unreal, 7 inexpensive, 8 unhappy, 9 impossible, 10 unusual, 11 uncomfortable, 12 indirect, 13 uninteresting, 14 impatient, 15 inconvenient, 16 unpopular
1d, 2c, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7d
Hope, use of negative prefixes in English did not become a difficult topic for you.