ENGLISH LANGUAGE: S.S.1

Topic: Prefix and Examples

Core Concepts

A prefix is a letter or a group of letters added to the *beginning* of a word. When a prefix is added, it changes the meaning of the original word or creates a completely new word. The original word to which a prefix is attached is called the *root word* or *base word*. Understanding prefixes is crucial because it helps you to expand your vocabulary and understand the meanings of many new words you encounter.

Key Points: Common Prefixes and Their Meanings

Here are some common prefixes, their meanings, and clear examples of how they change words:

• un- (meaning: not, opposite of)
  • happy → unhappy (not happy)
  • tie → untie (opposite of tie)
• re- (meaning: again, back)
  • write → rewrite (write again)
  • build → rebuild (build again)
• dis- (meaning: not, opposite of, away)
  • agree → disagree (not agree)
  • appear → disappear (go away)
• pre- (meaning: before)
  • view → preview (view before)
  • school → preschool (before school age)
• in-/im-/il-/ir- (meaning: not)

  These prefixes all mean "not" but are used depending on the starting letter of the root word:

  • in- (e.g., *direct* → indirect - not direct)
  • im- (before words starting with m, p; e.g., *possible* → impossible - not possible)
  • il- (before words starting with l; e.g., *legal* → illegal - not legal)
  • ir- (before words starting with r; e.g., *regular* → irregular - not regular)
• sub- (meaning: under, below)
  • marine → submarine (under the sea)
  • way → subway (underground way)
• inter- (meaning: between, among)
  • national → international (between nations)
  • net → Internet (network between computers)
• anti- (meaning: against)
  • social → antisocial (against being social)
  • biotic → antibiotic (against bacteria/life)
• mis- (meaning: wrongly, badly)
  • understand → misunderstand (understand wrongly)
  • spell → misspell (spell wrongly)
• bi- (meaning: two)
  • cycle → bicycle (two wheels)
  • lingual → bilingual (two languages)
• tri- (meaning: three)
  • angle → triangle (three angles)
  • pod → tripod (three legs)
• mono- (meaning: one)
  • tone → monotone (one tone)
  • rail → monorail (one rail)
• auto- (meaning: self)
  • pilot → autopilot (pilots itself)
  • graph → autograph (self-written signature)
• co- (meaning: with, together)
  • operate → cooperate (operate together)
  • pilot → co-pilot (a pilot who works with another)

Summary

In summary, prefixes are essential word parts added to the beginning of root words to modify or create new meanings. They are powerful tools for expanding your vocabulary and understanding the nuances of the English language. By learning common prefixes and their meanings, you can often deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words, significantly improving your reading comprehension and communication skills.