Using a prefix. What is a prefix, its meaning and use in English

Let's continue with vocabulary. Consider a couple more prefixes that can be found in irregular verbs, and not only in them.

Prefix MIS - has only one meaning = NOT AS IT SHOULD be, i.e wrong and false. He originated from English verb to miss = miss, miss. And now Latin = minus. This is all that is embedded in the MIS prefix values. It is added mainly to verbs and nouns.

A few examples:

MIS + to place = place, put in place - to MISplace = put, put in the wrong place;

MIS + to lead = lead, be ahead - to MISlead = mislead, lead aside;

MIS + chance (n) = chance, chance - MISchance(n) = failure, accident;

MIS + to behave = behave (about behavior and manners) - to MISbehave = bad, misbehave;

MIS + fortune (n) = luck, happiness, fate, fortune - MISfortune (n) misfortune, misfortune;

MIS + to lay = put, put - to MISlay = put in the wrong place;

MIS + to spell = spell and spell - to MIS-spell = write with spelling errors;

MIS + step (n) = step, step, measure = MIS-step(n) = incorrect, false step, error;

MIS + to understand = understand - MISunderstand = misunderstand;

MIS + count (n) = count - MIScount = miscalculation.

I would like to say about the verb to MIStake - to make mistakes, misunderstand, be mistaken. The root of this verb is the well-known verb to take = to take, take. It would seem, how to put together "take" and "err"? But everything is very simple: the verb “to take” is very ambiguous and one of its figurative meanings is = to understand,. count and believe. Then everything converges:

There is also a noun MIStake (n) = mistake, misunderstanding, delusion.

The IN prefix is ​​a special, “changing” prefix, since it changes the consonant letter N to letters M,L R (IM, IL, IR), depending on which letter the word to which it is added begins with. Let's encode these three letters for memorization: MALyaR. In addition, remember:

before the letter “L” the prefix IN = IL; that is, we get a double letter “L”, for example: iLLusion, iLLegal, iLLuminate;

before the letter “R” the prefix IN =IR; that is, we get a double letter “R”, for example: iRREgular, iRResponsible, iRRevelant;

before the letters “P”, “M”, “B” the prefix IN =IM , that is, a double letter “M” and combinations of the letters “MP” and MB are obtained, for example: iMMortal, iMProve, iMBalance. To memorize three consonants letters P,M,B I code: Pumba.

If you open a dictionary with the letter “I” and look up words that begin with the letters IN, IR, IM, IMB, IMP (and there are a lot of such words), then almost all of them are prefixed. Having learned one root word and adding a prefix to it, you will automatically understand two words, and taking into account suffixes, this number doubles, triples. four times ... etc.

Now consider the meaning of the IN prefix.

The IN prefix has two meanings:

1. Completely absorbs the meaning of the preposition of place “IN” = in, inside; with the same translation. In this meaning, the IN prefix does not always change its consonant "N". A few examples:

IN + sight - INsight (n) = insight, insight, intuition;

IN + come - INcome (n) = income, income, earnings;

IN + deed - INdeed (adv) = really, really;

IN + born - INborn IMborn (adj) = congenital;

IN + to lay - INlay \u003d invest, line;

IN + to put - INput = enter;

IN + to set - INset = insert, nest;

IN + to press - IMpress = to impress, to impress;

IN + to breethe - INbreethe = to inhale;

IN + cut - INcut(n) = cut;

IN + land = INland (n) = inland part of the land away from the sea.

2. IN prefix is ​​NEGATIVE. This is an analogue of the UN prefix. Translated: NOT or WITHOUT.

IN + moral - IMMoral = immoral;

IN + delicate - INdelicate = indelicate, tactless;

IN + comparable - INcomparable = incomparable;

IN + patient - IMpatient = impatient;

IN + convenient - INconvenient = uncomfortable;

IN + logical - ILLogical = illogical;

IN + different - INdifferent = indifferent;

IN + action - INaction = inaction;

IN + ability - INability = inability;

IN + curable - INcurable = incurable.

While studying at school, children will learn what a prefix is. About what this concept means and what groups it is divided into, we will learn further in our article.

What is a prefix in Russian

We are accustomed to a more simplified name for this concept - a prefix. The prefix is ​​the Latin name of the morpheme that comes before the root. It is quite productive, helping to form new words. For example, the word "beautiful" takes on a completely different connotation with the prefix "not" - "ugly". And the word "successful" is easily transformed into the antonym "unsuccessful" with the help of the morpheme "without". Thus, we conclude that the prefix not only creates new concepts, but also gives a shade to existing ones.

There are cases when a word cannot be used without a prefix. We all know that it is correct to say "put", but "lay down" is impossible in any case! And by adding a prefix to this word, we get a whole lexical nest: Put, Attach, Lay. This is a historical phenomenon that affects modern system morphemics.

It is not enough to know what a prefix is. It is necessary to understand what it is for. In addition to word formation, it helps to give words the necessary meaning.

Consider the prefix "for". It can mean:

• completeness of the action: drive, complete;
• incidental action: run in, go in;
• beginning: to dance, to scream.

You need to be careful when forming new words with the help of prefixes in order to get the desired meaning.

Prefix groups

To better understand what a prefix is, let's find out what bits it is customary to divide them into.

The most large group- immutable prefixes. They form new words, while not changing under any circumstances. This category is considered the most problem-free in terms of grammar, you do not need to think about how to write them and remember the rules. For example: Ride, Speak, Run.

The next category is prefixes ending in the consonants "З" or "С". Their spelling depends on the letter that comes after. If the vowel or consonant is voiced, then we write "Z": unconditional, climbs. In the case when the deaf consonant is "C": Initial, tell.

A common mistake that occurs in children who are learning what a prefix is ​​is the incorrect spelling of the invariable prefix "C". They confuse it with the "Z" and "S" digits and may misspel it if it is followed by a voiced vowel (for example, Create instead of Make).

The third group and, perhaps, the most difficult: PRE and PRI. They have a lot of exceptions that need to be remembered. We often write "PRI" when there is a meaning of proximity (seaside), attachment (pin), completeness (jump). "PRE" is used in the case when one or another feature is enhanced: PRE-funny (very).

Outcome

Now you will not have a question about what a prefix is ​​in Russian. The rule says that this is a morpheme that always comes at the beginning of a word before the root. A variety of prefixes in the Russian language allows you to form a huge number of new words to convey different shades of meaning.

Prefix? Don't let it bother you foreign word- this is just a prefix, with which, for example, in English and some other languages, you can change the meaning of a word. Our article discusses this topic in detail, gives examples of use, as well as a table and translation of the most commonly used prefixes, but not all - in English language there are a great many of them. Having studied the topic "Prefix", the function of which, as we have already found out, is nothing more than word formation, you will replenish your knowledge and enrich your vocabulary. Some prefixes are of native English origin, for example a-, mis-, fore-, mid-, and some are Latin, here are some of them anti-, contra-, (by the way, these prefixes can also be found in Russian), dis- . You will find detailed information below.

Prefixes in English

When we have already figured out what prefixes mean, let's look at examples of their use:
take the verb to agree - agree, applying the addition dis- to it at the beginning of the word, we get (to) disagree - disagree, express disagreement;
or, for example, the adjective regular - ordinary, but with the prefix ir- we get irregular - unusual, atypical. You see, knowing what a prefix is ​​and its meaning, you can completely change it and make it a completely opposite word in meaning.

Table of prefixes that are used most often

Prefix name	Meaning	Examples with translation
pro-	against something opposed to something	pro-life (pro-life)
anti-	false, opposite, comparable to something	anti-hero (negative character, for example, in a movie); antichrist (antichrist)
contra -	opposite to something	contraflow (oncoming flow of traffic), contraception (contraception)
counter-	also used in the sense of opposing something to something	counter-example (opposite example, different from what the opponent offers), counterattack - counterattack (that is, repelling the enemy's attack)
a-	often used to mean "not"	amoral (immoral, that is, a person NOT observing accepted moral principles), apolitical (apolitical, that is, out of politics)
dis-	unacceptable	distrust (distrust), disagree (disagreement); that's why it's important to know what a prefix is ​​- it completely changes the meaning of the original word
in-/im-	also means "not"	illegal (illegal), impossible (impossible), incapable (incapable)
non-/un-	"not"	non-event (insignificant event); unfair (unfair)
extra -	used to mean "above"	extrasensory (psychic), extraordinary (extraordinary)
in-	"in anything", "anywhere"	indoors (indoors, inside the house), ingathering - harvesting
im-/il-/ir	all three prefixes mean "between"	immirate (immigrate, that is, move between countries), import (import)
mid-	"average"	midfield (center of the football field), midway (half way)
out-	"from", "out"	outlook (forecast), outnumber (outnumbered)
under-	used to mean the lack of something	underpay (underpayment), underwork (insufficient use, for example, of any resource)
un-	prefix expresses the opposite of some action or state	unknown (unknown), uncomfortable (uncomfortable), unpack (unpack things)
pre-	"to something"	prepay (prepayment), preview (preview)

When learning English, you absolutely need to remember the prefix, its meaning and use in practice. It is found quite often both in ordinary and everyday speech, in fiction and special literature, so at first keep the above table in front of your eyes, practice using it, and your speech, as well as your vocabulary, will be significantly enriched. This is a rather simple topic, usually it takes students only a couple of hours to successfully master it.

First of all, it must be said that English prefixes do not change parts of speech. Further, their spelling may be different. For example, the British tend to write prefixes with a hyphen, while the Americans prefer to write words together (and this applies not only to prefixes). In addition, well-established words that are independent lexical units are often written together, and in one-time formations the prefix can be separated. Thus, in similar texts of different national authorship one can meet co-operation and cooperation, re-write and rewrite, ultraviolet and ultraviolet.

Now consider the meanings of the various prefixes.

Negative prefixes: un-, in-, dis-, non-.

Prefixes un-, in-, as well as such variants of the latter as il-(before l), ir-(before r), im-(before m and p) change the meaning of the word to the opposite. Most often they correspond to the Russian prefix not:

known (known) - un known (unknown)
happy (happy) - un happy (unhappy)
official (official) - un official (unofficial)
popular (popular) - un popular (unpopular)
complete (complete) - in complete (incomplete)
direct (direct) - in direct (indirect)
legal (legal) - il legal (illegal)
logical (logical) - il logical (illogical)
regular (regular) - ir regular (irregular)
reversible (reversible) - ir reversible (irreversible)
possible (possible) - im possible (impossible)
mortal (mortal) - im mortal (immortal)

following below prefixes in english are mostly of Latin, sometimes Greek origin. Very often, similar prefixes - or words in which they are used - exist in Russian.

Prefix dis- can express both negation and the opposite action or concept:

to like (to love) - to dis like (not to love)
proportional (proportional) - dis proportional (disproportionate)
to cover (cover) - to dis cover (detect)
connection (connection, connection) - dis connection (disconnection, disconnection)

Prefix non- most often written with a hyphen, although Americans prefer to write it together:

conformity (conformity) - non conformity (inconsistency)
performance (execution) - non performance (failure)

Prefix re- conveys the meaning of repetition, the repetition of an action. Often corresponds to the Russian prefix re-. In scientific, political vocabulary, the prefix re- occurs quite frequently.

Re -send the message, please. - Send the message again, please.
re structuring - restructuring
re -export - re-export
to re sell - resell
to re do - redo

Prefix mis- has the meaning not right, wrong:

to mis spell - write incorrectly, make a mistake in spelling
to mis understand - misunderstand
to mis lead - mislead

Prefixes over- and under- have opposite meanings. The first means above, redundantly, second - not enough:

to charge (set a price) - to over charge (charge too much) - to under charge (set a lower price)
to pay (pay) - to over pay (overpay) - to under pay (underpay)
to estimate (estimate) - to over estimate (reestimate) - to under estimate (underestimate)

Prefixes pre- and post- are also opposite in meaning. The first means before, second - after:

pre -war (pre-war) - post -war (post-war)
pre historic (prehistoric)
post position (postposition)

Prefix anti- corresponds to Russian anti-:

anti -terrorism (fight against terrorism)
anti -Semitism (anti-Semitism)

Prefix counter- corresponds to Russian counter-, anti-:

measure (measure) – counter measure (countermeasure)
attack (attack) - counter attack (counterattack)

Prefix co- means joint action, cooperation:

operation (action) - co operation (cooperation)
existence (existence) - co existence (coexistence)

Inter- means inside, between, can also convey reciprocity:

national (national) - inter national (international, international)
city ​​(city) - inter -city (intercity)
dependent (dependent) - inter dependent (interdependent)

Prefix ex- has the meaning former, often coincides with the prefix present in Russian the ex-:

ex -president (ex-president)
ex -wife (ex-wife)

Sub- corresponds to the Russian prefix under-:

paragraph (paragraph, paragraph) - sub paragraph (subparagraph)
terraneous (terrestrial) - sub terraneous (underground)

Prefix ultra- has the meaning above-, often the same as Russian ultra-:

ultra -short (ultra short)
ultra violet (ultraviolet)