Prefixes

Learning Objectives

Identify prefixes in words in order to improve pronunciation

Prefixes-a word part that is placed in front of a base word to create a new word.

Prefix + Root Word=new word

Common Prefixes:

Prefix

Meaning

Words

anti- against anti-racist
de- opposite defrost
dis- opposite disagree
en- cause to encode
in-, im, il- not inappropriate, improper, illiterate
inter- between interact
mis- wrongly misunderstand
non- not nonsense
pre- before preview
re- again return
sub- under subordinate
trans- across transgender
un- not unfriendly

 

Try It

In some cases, letters at the beginning of a word are not prefixes:

Examples:

real

uncle

pretty

interest

 

The spelling of the base word never changes. Add the prefix to the beginning of the base word.

Example: tri+cycle=tricycle

 

In some cases, double letters occur.

Example: un+natural=unnatural

 

A hyphen is needed in these cases:

-when a prefix is added to a proper noun or a numeral.

Example: Un-American

-when the prefix ex meaning former.

Example: ex-president

-after the prefix self.

Example: self-respect

-to separate two a’s, two i’s, two e’s or two o’s to improve readability

Example: co-owner, de-emphasize, re-elect