How To Use Prefixes
How To Use Prefixes
How To Use Prefixes
To understand a prefix, you must first understand what a root word is. A root word can be changed into a new word by attaching an element in the beginning and/or ending of that word.
What is a prefix?
A prefix is a language element attached to the beginning of the words to modify its meaning. Each prefix has its own meaning. When attached to a root word, a prefix changes the meaning of the root word to which it is added. For example, consider the root word PHOBIA, which strong fear or dislike. Let us attach the prefix CLAUSTRO-, which means being shut in. Claustro + phobia becomes claustrophobia which finally means fear of being confined.
One good way to enhance and expand your vocabulary is by learning to identify and use a prefix. A developed vocabulary increases your listening and speaking comprehension, also it will enable you to communicate more effectively.
To build your vocabulary practice using prefixes by do the following:
1. Look for a prefixes which you are unfamiliar with. Look for its meaning in the dictionary.
2. Note down the prefixes and its meanings and study it frequently.
3. Go over the prefixes from time to time
4. Try to form words by adding these prefixes to root words
5. Utilize these words when you speak and write
Here are common examples of prefixes and their corresponding connotations
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
a-
also an-
not, without
atheist, anaemic
a-
to, towards
aside, aback
in the process of, in a particular state
a-hunting, aglow
a-
of
anew
completely
abashed
ab-
also abs-
away, from
abdicate, abstract
ad-
also a-, ac-, af-, ag- al-, an-, ap-, at- as-, at-
movement to, change into, addition or increase
advance, adulterate, adjunct, ascend, affiliate, affirm, aggravate, alleviate, annotate, apprehend, arrive, assemble, attend
ante-
before, preceding
antecedent, ante-room
anti-
also ant-
opposing, against, the opposite
anti-aircraft, antibiotic, anticlimax, Antarctic
be-
all over, all around
bespatter, beset
completely
bewitch, bemuse
having, covered with
bejewelled
affect with (added to nouns)
befog
cause to be (added to adjectives)
becalm
com-
also co-, col-, con-, cor-
with, jointly, completely
combat, codriver, collude, confide, corrode
contra-
against, opposite
contraceptive
counter-
opposition, opposite direction
counter-attack, counteract
de-
down, away
descend, despair, depend, deduct
completely
denude, denigrate
removal, reversal
de-ice, decamp
dia-
also di-
through, across
diagonal
dis-
also di-
negation, removal, expulsion
disadvantage, dismount, disbud, disbar
en-
also em-
put into or on
engulf, enmesh
bring into the condition of
enlighten, embitter
intensification
entangle, enrage
ex-
also e-, ef-
out
exit, exclude, expand
upward
exalt, extol
completely
excruciate, exasperate
previous
ex-wife
extra-
outside, beyond
extracurricular
hemi-
half
hemisphere
hyper-
beyond, more than, more than normal
hypersonic, hyperactive
hypo-
under
hypodermic, hypothermia
in-
also il-, im-
not, without
infertile, inappropriate, impossible
also il-, im-, ir-
in, into, towards, inside
influence, influx, imbibe
infra-
below
infrared, infrastructure
inter-
between, among
interact, interchange
intra-
inside, within
intramural, intravenous
non-
absence, negation
non-smoker, non-alcoholic
ob-
also oc-, of-, op-
blocking, against, concealing
obstruct, occult, offend, oppose
out-
surpassing, exceeding
outperform
external, away from
outbuilding, outboard
over-
excessively, completely
overconfident, overburdened, overjoyed
upper, outer, over, above
overcoat, overcast
peri-
round, about
perimeter
post-
after in time or order
postpone
pre-
before in time, place, order or importance
pre-adolescent, prelude, precondition
pro-
favouring, in support of
pro-African
acting for
proconsul
motion forwards or away
propulsion
before in time, place or order
prologue
re-
again
repaint, reappraise, reawake
semi-
half, partly
semicircle, semi-conscious
sub-
also suc-, suf-, sug-, sup-, sur-, sus-
at a lower position
submarine, subsoil
lower in rank
sub-lieutenant
nearly, approximately
sub-tropical
syn-
also sym-
in union, acting together
synchronize, symmetry
trans-
across, beyond
transnational, transatlantic
into a different state
translate
ultra-
beyond
ultraviolet, ultrasonic
extreme
ultramicroscopic
un-
not
unacceptable, unreal, unhappy, unmanned
reversal or cancellation of action or state
unplug, unmask
under-
beneath, below
underarm, undercarriage
lower in rank
undersecretary
not enough
underachieve
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