Negative Prefixes

We use prefixes to change meaning. They never 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 im: dis + agree > disagree;
im+ polite > impolite

Prefix Meaning / use Example
anti + adjective/noun opposite anti- clockwise/ anti-climax
anti + noun / adjective against anti-theft device / anti-European
co + noun / verb together cohabit / cooperate / cowriter
dis + verb negative/opposite dislike / disembark / dismiss / disconnect
il + adjective opposite illegal / illiterate / illegible /
im + adjective opposite impossible / impolite / impatient / imperfect
in+adjective opposite indirect / inadequate/ informal / indecisive
inter + adjective between intercontinental / international
ir + adjective opposite irregular / irrelevant / irresponsible
mis + verb wrongly/ badly mistook / mishandle/misunderstand
over + verb too much/excess overwork / overcook/overcome/oversleep
out + verb more outnumber
post + noun / verb after postgraduate/ postwar
pre + noun / verb before pre- arrangement/ prejudge
pro + noun / adjective in favour of pro-Unions / pro-European
sub + adjective below
substandard / subway / submarine /
subdivision
super + noun/ adjective greater than superhuman / superpower
trans + noun / verb / across transplant /transcontinental
un + verb / adjective negative / opposite unlock / unhappy/ unreasonable / unhappy
under + verb not enough/too little undercook / undercharge/underestimate
There are a few rules:
• We use il instead of in with words that begin with l: il + 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 that begin with r: ir + responsible =
irresponsible.
EXERCISES
Ex. 1. Complete the sentences below with the opposites of the following adjectives
possible employed patient reliable advantage responsible
happy legal formal reasonable convenient honest
1
1. Don’t depend on him. He’s a very …………………….…… person.
2. Don’t be so ……………… …, we’re only been waiting a few minutes.
3. 7.30 a.m on a Saturday is a rather ………………………… time for an appointment.
4. Please don’t be so ………………….……., I can’t do all the work by myself.
5. It’s too late now. It’s ……………………… for me to be there before 8.00 p.m.
6. She is …………… …………. .because she failed in the final exam.
7. It’s …………… ………. to drive under the age of seventeen in Britain.
8. He doesn’t have any jobs. He is ……
9. It was … …………… of her to cheat in the examination.
10. It was very …………………… of you to go away for the weekend without telling
your parents where you were.
11. It is a great ………….……. nowadays not to be able to drive – especially when
applying for a job.
12. You don’t need to wear a suit or a jacket; it’s going to be a very ………………….
party.
Ex. 2. Complete the following sentences with nouns made from the words given
in parentheses.
1. All the bad news in the daily paper give me great…………………… .(happy)
2. Arnold hides his………… …… ……under kind words. (honest)
3. Bob often cries and then laughs. He shows emotional………………. (stable)
4. Graham is a difficult child: he’s very …………………… … (obey)
5. To drive without a licence is an (legal)
6. Tom’s room is a mess. His ……….……… ….…….is famous. (tidy)

7. Unfortunately Jonas always expresses complete with my ideas. (agree)
8. The rate of especially among young people is dramatically
increasing. (employ)
9. James is very original and he always dresses in a way. (conform)
10. Sally is sometimes very silly and shows all her (mature)
11. In the States they celebrate their in July. (depend)
12. Racism and are very serious problems. (tolerate)
13. She expressed her with the service by leaving no tip. (satisfy)
14. After her sudden we called the police. (appear)
15. This year uor country will have been …………………… for 40 years. (dependence)
EX. 3 Complete the sentences with the word given with an appropriate prefix.
1. This meat is and it’s still raw. I don’t like it. (cook)
2. This morning I and I was late for work (sleep)
3. This composition is badly done. You’ll have to ………… it. (write)
4. The in the film was Angelina Jolie .(star)
5. They me in that restaurant. It was really very expensive. (charge)
6. After demolishing the old school, they are now a new one. (build)
7. What do you for my future? (see)
8. The room was It was very hot indeed. (heated)
9. I saw a film about a famous Western (law)
10. That supermarket is its products. Let’s go shopping there. (sell)
11. During the war they built shelters. (ground)
2
12. Don’t Take it easy. (do)
13. They have the cinema they had closed down . (open)
14. I’m sorry. I ……………………… her message completely. (understand)
15. The runner was after a blood test. (qualify)
16.I’m sure he’s lying but it’s going to be hard to ……………… his story. (prove)
12. I almost always find that I with his opinion. (agree)
13. It took the removal men an hour …………………. our things from the van. (load)

14.His phone was …………………. because he didn’t pay his last bill. (connect)
15. There is no doubt that cannabis will remain an …………………. drug for the
foreseeable future. (legal)
16. It was quite ……………. for us to drive all the way from Paris to Madrid in one day.
(possible)
17. He made an …………………. attempt to climb the highest mountain in the range.
(successful)
18. To take the boat out with four children under the age of ten and with no life jackets on
board was quite …………………. of him. (responsible)
19. The dress she was wearing was quite ………………. for the occasion. (appropriate)
20. It was very …………………. of him to insult his mother in front of his aunt. (polite)
21. They were a completely …………………. family and I never thought that one day I
would marry one of the daughters. (religious)
22. As a politician he was ………………. and it was not long before nobody trusted him.
(honest)
23. The goods were ………………….and had to be returned to the store we bought them
from. (perfect)
24. She was …………. with her life and decided that things had to change. (contented)
25. I don’t think I’ll pass the exam, but I can …………………. it in September. (sit)
3