Exploring prefixes

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Exploring prefixes dis-

un-

inter-

il-

irpre-

mis-

sub-

antiClick the prefix you want to study

dis‘dis-’ has several meanings one of which is ‘not’

Type the correct spelling into each box. disatisfied / dissatisfied

When using the prefix dis- simply attach it to the root word!

disservice / diservice

disallow / dissallow

You don’t need to alter the spelling. I disconnected the television and video cables so that I could move them around the room.

Can you discover more words starting with ‘dis’ in the dictionary?

un‘un-’ has several meanings one of which is ‘not’ When using the prefix un- simply attach it to the root word!

You don’t need to alter the spelling. The ground was uneven and so I tripped over.

Type the correct spelling in each box. unatural / unnatural

unnobtrusive / unobtrusive

uneven / unven

Can you look up more words Starting with ‘un’ in the dictionary?

inter‘inter-’ has several meanings one of which is ‘between’

Add ‘inter-’ to these words. If you are unsure of their meanings then look them up.

When using the prefix ‘inter-’ simply attach it to the root word!

mediate national

You don’t need to alter the spelling. Can you look up more words Starting with ‘inter’ in the dictionary?

ilThe prefix ‘il-’ most often means ‘not’

Type the correct spelling in each box. ilogical / illogical

When using the prefix il- simply attach it to the root word! You don’t need to alter the spelling.

illegitimate / ilegitimate

illegal / ilegal

Can you look up more words Starting with ‘il’ in the dictionary?

ir‘ir-’ has several meanings one of which is ‘not’

When using the prefix ‘ir-’ simply attach it to the root word! You don’t need to alter the spelling.

Type the correct spelling in each box. iregular / irregular

iresponsible / irresponsible

Use the dictionary to look up the word irrational. Try to explain its meaning and use it in a sentence of your own.

pre‘pre-’ means ‘before’ Example: pre + view = preview

I went to see a preview of the latest action movie.

Add ‘pre-’ to the words inside the boxes. Look up their meaning in the dictionary if you need to. Write them into sentences to show their meaning. suppose caution

(preview = advanced showing) Pre

view

occupied

Can you look up more words Starting with ‘pre-’ in the dictionary?

mis‘mis-’ means ‘wrongly’ or ‘badly’ When adding ‘mis-’ as a prefix there is no need to change the spelling of the root word. e.g. He was confused because he misunderstood the instructions.

Add ‘mis-’ to the words inside the boxes. Look up their meaning in the dictionary if you need to. Write them into sentences to show their meaning. read understood

guided

Can you look up more words Starting with ‘mis-’ in the dictionary?

sub‘sub-’ means ‘under’.

Example: sub + marine = submarine.

• • •

Add ‘sub’ to the following words. Look up their meaning in the dictionary if you need to. Write them into sentences to show their meaning.

merge

(A submarine goes under water). culture

standard Can you look up more words Starting with ‘sub-’ in the dictionary?

anti‘anti-’ means ‘against’.

Example: anti + social = antisocial.

• • •

Add ‘anti’ to the following words. Look up their meaning in the dictionary if you need to. Write them into sentences to show their meaning.

septic

(unsociable / opposed to the community) clockwise

body Can you look up more words Starting with ‘anti-’ in the dictionary?

What’s a prefix? • A ‘prefix’ is part of a word that you can add to the front of a ‘root’ word to change its meaning. Example: prefix

+

un

+

root word =

happy

=

new word

unhappy (not happy)