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