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:

• 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.

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.