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Negative Prefixes

Negative prefixes

What is a prefix?

A prefix is a small collection of letters added to the beginning of words to change their meaning. In English, we have affirmative statements; one way to convert affirmative statements into negative statements is to add a negative prefix in verbs, nouns and adjectives of the statement. A negative prefix is used to invert the meaning of a word.

Some common examples of negative prefixes are:

  1. un- 

Words that start with a vowel or constant take un as a negative prefix mean 'not.' Un is one of the most common prefixes in English.

Example:

  • Unable
  • Unhappy
  • Unusual
  • Uncomfortable
  • Uneasy
  • Unfortunate
  • Unsatisfactory
  • Untidy
  • Untie
  • Unseen

Example sentences 

  • I was unable to attend my friend’s birthday party because I was sick.
  • My brother was unhappy after he lost his phone.
  • I find this book unusual.
  • I am uncomfortable on this couch.
  • I feel uneasy after wearing this necklace.
  • According to my family my GPA is unsatisfactory.
  • You always look untidy.
  • I want to untie my shoelaces.
  • This book is unseen.
  1. il-

The word that starts with the letter L usually take il- as a negative prefix.

Example:

  • Illegal
  • Illness
  • Illiterate
  • Illogical.
  • Illegible

Example sentences

  • It is illegal to sell drugs in Pakistan.
  • My friend is suffering from mental illness.
  • Mostly people of Hyderabad are illiterate.
  • I am not illegible to give entry test in Mehran university.
  • My thoughts are about COVID-19 are very illogical.
  1. im- 

im- is often used with words that either start with the letter P or M.

Example:

  • Immature
  • Immoral
  • Impossible
  • Imperfect
  • Immortal
  • Impolite
  • Immeasurable

Examples sentences

  • Ali is very immature.
  • Your thoughts regarding the party are very immoral.
  • It is impossible to count the grains of sand.
  • There are a lot of imperfections in your dress.
  • The oak tree in my back yard is immortal.
  • we should never be impolite to anyone.
  • Water is immeasurable without any container.
  1. ir-

Ir- is usually used with words that start with the letter R.

Examples

  • Irresistible
  • Irrational
  • Irregular
  • Irresponsible
  • Irrespective
  • Irrelevant

Examples in sentences: 

  • I find your book irresistible.
  • This value is irrational.
  • I am irregular in my online classes.
  • Ali is very irresponsible.
  • I am irrelevant to your syllabus.
  1. in- 

In- prefix is used with words that start with a vowel (except I or u) or a constant.

Example:

  • Insane
  • Inorganic
  • Inaccurate
  • Incomplete
  • Independent
  • Indefinite

Example sentences:

  • The roller coaster ride was insane.
  • Inorganic tomatoes are very cheap. 
  • This compass is very inaccurate.
  • Your notes are incomplete. 
  • Pakistan is an independent country.
  • The life of a bat is indefinite.

 

Note: Many words that start with in- but they are not considered as negative prefixes.

Such as:

  • Inclined 
  • Insist
  • Invoke 
  • Instrument
  • Interchangeable 

 

  1. dis- 

Dis- prefix can be used with verbs, nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. It means ‘opposite of.’ Words that take ‘dis-’ as a prefix can either start with a vowel or a constant.

Example:

  • Disagree
  • Discomfort
  • Dismount
  • Dislike
  • Disappear
  • Discouraged

 

 

 

Examples sentences:

  • disagree with your decision.
  • Aliya's discomfort was evidence that she had committed the crime. 
  • Can you please dismount the shelves from the wall.
  • dislike the illness.
  • I just want to disappear from this world.
  • Students get discouraged very easily.
  1. non-

Some words take ‘non-’ as a prefix, which means not.

Example:

  • Nonfiction
  • Nonsense
  • Nonessential
  • Nonsignificant
  • Nonalcoholic

Examples sentences:

  • The novel THE ALCHEMIST is non-fiction.
  • What nonsense are you speaking.
  • Smartphone is a nonessential thing for kids.
  • Nonsignificant trends were observed in 2003.
  • This is a nonalcoholic drink.

 

  1. mis- 

The prefix ‘mis-‘ means ‘wrongly’ it can be used with words to convert affirmative statements into negative statements. 

Example:

  • Misbehave
  • Misunderstood
  • Misconduct
  • Misuse

Examples sentences: 

  • We should never misbehave with our teacher.
  • I misunderstood what you said.
  • The entry test was misconducted.
  • He did misuse of the gun.
  1. de- 

The prefix 'de-' means 'to undo.' It can be used with words to convert an affirmative statement into a negative statement.

Examples:

  • Deactivate
  • Defrost
  • Deaccelerate
  • Deallocate
  • Dealcoholize

Example sentences:

  • I want to deactivate my sim cards 
  • I have to defrost the chicken
  • I started deaccelerate when I saw the blizzard on the highway.
  • You should deallocate the codes.
  • My friend knows how to dealcoholized rinks.

Conclusion 
In this lesson, we learned:

  • How to use negative prefixes. 
  • Negative prefixes are a collection of letters added at the starting of any word to change its meaning.
  • Negative prefixes are used to convert affirmative statements into negative statements
  • We also learned some necessary negative prefixes which are commonly used.

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