Lesson 5

Word Formation

Prefixes

We use prefixes to change meaning They never change the part of speech. (Most suffixes change the part of speech.)

• Many prefixes give a word a meaning which is the opposite or negative of the original. For example, we can use the prefixes dis or un: dis + appear = disappear un + tie = untie

rprefix / meaning/ use / example
anti + adjective / noun / opposite / anti-clockwise
anti-climax
anti + noun / / against / anti-theft device
adjective / anti-European
co + noun/verb / together / co-worker
cohabit
dis + verb / negative / / dislike
opposite / disembark
il + adjective / opposite / illegal
im + adjective / opposite / impossible
in + adjective / opposite / indirect
inter + adjective / between / intercontinental
ir + adjective / opposite / irregular
mis + verb / wrongly/ / mistook
badly / mishandle
over + verb / too much / overdo
overwork
out + verb / more / outnumber
post + noun / verb / after / postgraduate
pre + noun / verb / before / pre-arrangement
pro + noun / / in favour of / pro-Unions
adjective / pro-European
sub + adjective / below / substandard
super + noun/ / greater than / superhuman
adjective
trans + noun / / across / transplant
verb / adjective / transcontinental
un + verb / / negative / / unlock
adjective / opposite / unhappy
under + verb / not enough / undercook
too little / undercharge

There are a few rules:

•We use il instead of in with words that begin withil + legal = illegal

•We use im instead of in with words that begin with m or p: im + polite = impolite

•We often use ir instead of in with words thatbegin with r:

ir + responsible = irresponsible.

•Some common mistakes are:

X You must unconnect the cables first y You must disconnect the cablesfirst. X They expelled him for disbeliaving. / They expelled him for misbehaving.

•Note that many words with a prefix have a basepart that never exists on its own. Here are

examples: immediate, incontrovertible, uncalled-for

I. Add a correct prefix to the following words. You may use your dictionary.

1dependent
2polite
3do
4driver
5approve
6behave
7logical
8zip / 9inform
10agree
11eat
12……..historic
13 …….Atlantic
14……..behaving
15……..moral
16…….hear
17……. interpret / 18 …….national
19 …….sleep
20 …….relevant
21 ……believe
22 …..crowded
23 …….understand
24 ….…natal

II. Complete the crossword with the correct prefixes.

Across
1 This prefix + words that begin with l means 'not'.
2The -Siberian railway goesfrom Moscow to Vladivostock.
35 Neverestimate the time you need to study for the exam.
7We use this prefix to mean 'in favour of’.
8The opposite of humane is humane.
10They told me I am
..qualified for the job.
11 ..-European protesters gathered round the embassy.
13 This prefix means 'wrongly' or 'badly'. /
Down
1 Take the.continental express
train from Paris to Warsaw.
3Do you believe in thenatural?
4 ..exist means 'to exist at the same time'.
5.The opposite of familiar is
..familiar.
6 The boys..appeared as soon as they saw the farmer coming. / 8The opposite of responsible is responsible.
9If you...-date a cheque, you write a later date on it.
12 We use this prefix meaning 'not' in front of words that begin with m.
Type the prefixes in
(in blue)

III. Add a prefix to the correct form of the word at the end of each line and use the word in the space on the same line. The first (0) is given as an example.

Attempts to communicate in a foreign language can easily (0) misfire.fire

I'm always (1).....by my attempts to get speak Greek.appoint

The waiter on Mykonos (2)....what I wanted and insteadunderstand

of beetroots brought me mushrooms. I (3)....mushrooms intenselylike

but when I asked him to (4).....them with beetroots he smiled,place

went into the kitchen and (5).....with a plateful of aubergines.turn

He also (6)..... my friendly attitude towards everyone I meettake

and when I complained that they had (7)....the meat,cook

Manuel (that was his name if I'm not (8)....) grinned andtake

twirled his moustache. To cap it all, I (9)....the bill and accusedread

the poor man of (10).....me! It was just my awful Greek again.charge

Part 2

We have seen (see Part 1) that we use prefixes to change meaning. They never change the part of speech. (Most suffixes change the part of speech.). Many prefixes give a word a meaning which is the negative of the original. Examples are dis, in, un. Other prefixes change meaning in different ways, for example: multi + ethnic = multiethnic (= made up of many different ethnic groups)

Here are some more prefixes:

Prefix Meaning / Use Example
de + verb / noun / opposite / decentralise
de + verb / remove / debone
de + verb / reduce / devalue
ex+ noun / previous / ex-husband
macro- noun / large / macroeconomics
micro + noun / very small / microelectronics
mini+ noun / small / mini hi-fi
mono+ noun / one / monolingual
multi + noun /
adjective / many / multipurpose
semi + noun /
adjective / half / semicircle
semi + adjective / partly / semiliterate
sub+ noun / under / subterranean
sub+ noun / less/lower / subcommittee

IV. Add a prefix from the list opposite to the words (1-20). You will use each prefix more than once. Then write down the meaning of the new word. You can use your dictionary.You can give an equivalent in Russian instead.

Example: escalate de-escalate means to remove or reduce the amount offighting

de ex mini micro mono multi semi sub

1.final means ……

2.partner means……

3. standard means……

4. national means……

5. section means……

6. bus means……

7caffeinated..... means……

8ethnic...means……

9zero...means……

10regulate...means……

11plot...means……

12wife...means……

13nationalise..... means…

14biology...means………

15rail...means………

16skirt...means………

17soil...means………

18chip...means………

19code...means………

20darkness...means………

V. Underline the correct word A, B, C or B to fill the spaces in the sentences.

1. I'm not sure what the doctor wrote - it's almost....

A inlegible B illegibleC legibleD illegal

2. If she left me, life would be....

A unbearable B debearableC subbearableD non-bearable

3. If only I hadn't married so young - I was very...at the time.

A inmatureB immatureC matureD unmature

4. The examiners remove marks for...words, don't they?

A unspeltB semi-speltC under-spelt D misspelt

5. Wear what you like - we're pretty...in this office.

A formal B informalC unformal D deformal

6.Unless you.....the fish first, your guests won't enjoy it.

A semi-bone B unboneC pre-bone D debone

7. I think the Government should..... the post office.

A denationalise B unnationalise C disnationalise D innationalise

8. I wish my...... and I were still on speaking terms.

A ex-partnerB pre-partnerC non-partner D departner

9. Use this.....tool and you'll do an excellent job.

A macropurpose B monopurpose C micropurpose D multipurpose

10. Let's form a....and do something about the poor state of the common.

A subcommittee B anti-committee C multi-committee D undercommittee

VI. Use the word given at the end of each line to form a word that fits the gap in the same line.

ABREATHOFFRESHAIR

The Government has decided to take the (1).....decision to ban
smoking in a lot of public places. Though a lot of people find smoking (2) , and though experts all agree it is
(3)...... and that it costs the state a lot to treat victims of
smoking, it is also (4).....that many people get
pleasure from the habit and find smoking (5)....when they
are in company. However, it is now (6)...... to deny the antisocial
nature of the habit. As advertising has proved (7)....with many
smokers, the Government has now made smoking (8)....in most
public places.
Smokers who are (9) .....to stop smoking will be obliged enjoy their
pastime in private and may feel the new measures are (10)..., but for
passive smokers for whom a room full of smoke is (11)....they
will come as a breath of fresh air. / POPULAR
PLEASE
HEALTH
DENY
RESIST
POSSIBLE
EFFECT
LAW
ABILITY
JUSTICE
BEAR

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