GV

Prefixes

Word beginnings that change meaning: un-, re-, dis-, pre-, mis-

intermediate

When to Use Prefixes

  • •Un-: opposite/not. happy → unhappy, do → undo.
  • •Re-: again. write → rewrite, do → redo.
  • •Dis-: opposite/not. agree → disagree, appear → disappear.
  • •Pre-: before. view → preview, war → prewar.
  • •Mis-: wrongly. understand → misunderstand, spell → misspell.

How to Form Prefixes

Affirmative (+)

Prefix + base word (usually no spelling change)

Negative (-)

Same structure

Question (?)

Same structure

💡 Usually no hyphen. Some words need hyphen to avoid confusion: re-cover vs recover.

Examples of Prefixes

✓I misunderstood the question.

✗I mis-understood the question.

Usually no hyphen with mis-.

✓Please reread the instructions.

✗Please re-read the instructions.

Usually no hyphen, but re-read is also acceptable.

✓It's impossible to finish.

✗It's unpossible to finish.

Im- (not un-) before p: impossible.

Common Mistakes with Prefixes

💡 Practice Tips for Prefixes

  • • Un-: most common negative prefix (unhappy, unable).
  • • In-/Im-/Il-/Ir-: negative before certain letters (impossible, illegal, irregular).
  • • Re-: again (rewrite, redo, rebuild).
  • • Dis-: opposite (disagree, disappear, disconnect).
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.Which is the correct negative form of 'possible'? 
  2. 2.Which is the correct negative form of 'legal'? 
  3. Question 3: Add the right negative prefix to 'regular': blankregular
    3.Add the right negative prefix to 'regular': regular
  4. Question 4: Add 'mis-' to 'spell': blank
    4.Add 'mis-' to 'spell':
  5. Question 5: Add 're-' to 'do' meaning 'do again': blank
    5.Add 're-' to 'do' meaning 'do again':
  6. Question 6: Add 'dis-' to 'appear': blank
    6.Add 'dis-' to 'appear':
  7. Question 7: Add the right negative prefix to 'happy': blankhappy
    7.Add the right negative prefix to 'happy': happy
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