The English language is rich in prefixes, that is, prefixes that create an additional shade of meaning. And today we will analyze those that have a negative meaning. Such prefixes are used with many parts of speech.
- Prefix il - combined with words that begin with the consonant letter "l»:
- legible - illegible (clear, legible - fuzzy, illegible);
- legal - illegal (legal, legal - illegal).
- Prefix ir- is used with those words that begin with the consonant letter "r»:
- regular - irregular (regular, correct - incorrect);
- resistible - irresistible (repellent - irresistible, irresistible);
- relevant - irrelevant (relevant, significant, significant - unrelated, irrelevant).
- Prefix im- is most often seen before adjectives that begin with the consonant "p":
- polite - impolite (polite - impolite);
- possible - impossible (probable, possible - impossible).
- Prefix in- is used in the following cases:
- before a certain letter combination. For example, "ac": activity - inactivity (activity - inactivity), accessible - inaccessible (available - inaccessible);
- before a word that begins with the consonant "c": capable - incapable (able - incapable), complete - incomplete (full - incomplete);
- exception: acceptable - unacceptable (acceptable - unacceptable).
- Prefix un- is the most common.
- used in adjectives and participles before vowels: attractive - unattractive (attractive - unattractive), able - unable (able, talented - incapable);
- in front of the majority of consonants: lucky - unlucky (happy, lucky - unlucky), bearable - unbearable (tolerant - unbearable), believable - unbelievable (probable, plausible - incredible);
- verbs with the prefix un- most often receive not a negative meaning, but the opposite: make - unmake (make, create - destroy, destroy), cover - uncover (cover - remove, open).
- Prefix dis- is the most difficult to remember because it is often controversial. Therefore, it is recommended to simply memorize words with her.
- adjectives and participles: connected - disconnected (connected, connected - incoherent, incoherent);
- words that begin with a pronounced consonant "h": hallow - dishallow (to consecrate - to desecrate);
- nouns and many verbs: ability - disability (ability - inability, impotence), satisfy - dissatisfy (please, give pleasure - do not satisfy);
- some words that begin with consonants: passionate - dispassionate (passionate - impartial, restrained).
- To remember the prefix mis-, it is best to associate it with something wrong or wrong, as this is its main meaning.
- fortune - misfortune (luck - failure), date - misdate (to date - to date incorrectly).
- Prefix non- is used most rarely and can sometimes serve as a replacement for other prefixes.
- recoverable - non-recoverable - unrecoverable(recoverable - non-recoverable - irrevocable).
We hope that this compilation of 8 rules will facilitate the process of using negative and opposite prefixes. And one last tip: if you can’t always correctly analyze which prefix is needed in a particular case, then just use a dictionary!
There are a lot of prefixes or prefixes in English. Just like in Russian, these prefixes can completely change the meaning of a word. Today we are going to look at attachments. il-, ir-, im-, in-, un-, dis-, mis-, non- , having a negative or opposite meaning, which we use with nouns, adjectives or verbs.
1.Il- used with words that begin with a consonant l: logical - illogical (logical - illogical); legible - illegible (legible (about handwriting) - illegible).
2. Ir - used with words that begin with a consonant r: responsible - irresponsible (responsible - irresponsible); replaceable - irreplaceable (replaceable - irreplaceable).
3. Im- usually used before adjectives beginning with a consonant R: polite - impolite (polite - impolite); personal - impersonal (personal - impersonal).
4. In- most commonly used:
- Before a combination of letters ace: accurate - inaccurate (accurate - inaccurate); active - inactive (active - inactive). HO unacceptable - unacceptable.
- Before a consonant with: coherent - incoherent (connected - incoherent); capable - incapable (capable - incapable). Exceptions: informal - informal; inarticulate - slurred.
5. With prefix un- you can form the largest number of words with the opposite meaning, it is also the main one in the formation of negation in verbs. Unfortunately, there is no clear rule when and where it should be used. Therefore, words with this prefix should simply be memorized. But there are some special cases that can help you:
- most often used before vowels in adjectives and participles: useable - unusable(suitable - unsuitable); attractive - unattractive(attractive - unattractive).
— before consonants: bearable - unbearable(tolerable - unbearable); daunted-undaunted(frightening - fearless); welcoming - unwelcome(friendly - unfriendly); natural - unnatural(natural - unnatural).
Verbs with un- most often have not negative meaning, a opposite: do - undo (fasten - unfasten); chain - unchain (chain - release).
6. Prefix dis- can introduce a bit of confusion into the use of negative prefixes, since dis- can be used before vowels, as well as some other prefixes. In case of dis- you just need to remember when it is used:
- adjectives and participles: advantageous - disadvantageous (predominant - disadvantageous); organized - disorganized (organized - unorganized).
- words that begin with a pronounced h: harmonious - disharmonious (harmonious - inharmonious); heartened - disheartened (inspired - sad).
- with some words starting with a consonant: passionate - dispassionate (passionate - passionless); respectful - disrespectful (respectful - disrespectful).
- with nouns and verbs: dissatisfy - do not satisfy; disabuse - lead out of delusions; disability - disability.
7. In order to better remember the bailiff mis- associate it with something “wrong”, “erroneous”, because most often it is used in this meaning, mis- works only with nouns, verbs and participles: misfortune - failure; misdial - dial the wrong number; misleading - misleading.
8. Last prefix non- it is used quite rarely, it comes from the particle no, sometimes it can replace other prefixes (for example, un-): Unprofessional - nonprofessional (non-professional); nonrecoverable - unrecoverable (not recoverable).
These little rules will make it easier for you to understand the use of negative prefixes, but unfortunately there are a lot of exceptions that you just need to remember. If you have the opportunity, it is best to look at each individual case in the dictionary.
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. It comes from the English verb to miss = to miss, to 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 the 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 remember the three consonants P, M, B, I encode: 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.
The affixal method of word formation in English vocabulary is very common, since the vocabulary of the language and most of its parts of speech consists of words formed from each other with the help of suffixes and prefixes. It is rather difficult to overestimate the value of prefixes: they make it possible to change almost any independent part of speech and form radically new words. Therefore, it is worth considering in more detail what are the main prefixes in English, as well as what meanings they have.
The main word-forming prefixes of the English language
Among the prefixes, there are quite a large number of those that carry a certain specific meaning.
- So, for example, verbs or nouns with the prefix re- indicate an action being performed again, or some updated object or process:
construct - re construct (build - redo)
assign- re assign (assign - reassign)
- pre- characterizes any preparatory event. With nouns, it is often written with a hyphen:
natal- pre natal (generic - prenatal)
election - pre-election (elections - primaries)
- at inter- the main meaning is connected with association and cooperation. Most often used with adjectives:
personal - inter personal (personal - interpersonal)
national - inter national (national - international)
- en-, is usually a verbal prefix that often introduces a new meaning to actions:
lighten- en lighten (shine - enlighten)
act- en act (to act - to include in action)
- ex- displays the meaning of something past, what was before. Its use is typical for nouns:
president - ex-president (president - former president)
singer - ex-singer (singer - former singer)
- Prefix over- indicates an excess of something and is more common with verbs, but can also be used with other parts of speech:
work- over work (work - recycle)
crowded- over crowded (populated - overpopulated)
- sub- is typical for different parts of speech and shows the presence of something below a certain level. For example:
urban- sub urban (urban - suburban)
zero - sub zero (zero - below zero)
- For ultra- also characterized by use with different parts of speech; this prefix shows an excessive degree of a concept or phenomenon:
sound- ultra sound (sound - ultrasound)
man - ultra man (man - superman)
- Another prefix post- displays the stage coming after:
Modernism - post modernism (modernism - postmodernism)
natal- post natal (birth - postpartum)
Negative English prefixes
Negative prefixes in English have one, but quite a significant problem: many of them often do not lend themselves to special logic, and for some of them there is no special rule. One of the options for memorizing such prefixes is constant training.
But some negative English prefixes have logical explanations:
- Prefix un- used with most adjectives to give them a negative connotation:
fortunate - un fortunate (happy - unlucky)
natural - un natural (natural - unnatural)
- in- has a characteristic feature: it is often used before the letters "a" or "c":
Credible - in credible (plausible - implausible)
accurate - in accurate (accurate - inaccurate)
- Prefix dis- sometimes placed before words beginning with "s", but in most cases its use must be memorized:
Satisfaction - dis satisfaction (satisfaction - dissatisfaction)
regard- dis regard (attention - inattention)
- non- usually has no explanation cases:
sense - non sense (meaning - nonsense)
existent - non existent (existing - non-existent)
- im- often used with adjectives starting with "m":
moral - im moral (moral - immoral)
perfect - im perfect (perfect - imperfect)
- mis- has no special signs of use, it should be remembered:
understand - misunderstand (understand - not understand)
use - misuse (use - misuse)
- At anti- there is one typical meaning of opposition, but there are no special signs of its use, so these words must also be memorized:
microbial- anti microbial (microbial - antimicrobial)
bacterial- anti bacterial (bacterial - antibacterial)
- Prefix meaning counter-- "against", the meaning is similar to -anti. There are also no special cases of memorization:
attack- counter attack (attack - counterattack)
measure - counter measure (measure - countermeasure)
As can be understood from the above examples, there are many word-forming prefixes in English. The table below can help group them, but it's best to approach the study with all seriousness and memorize all difficult use cases, training them in exercises and texts.
It is not at all necessary to use an auxiliary verb with a negation every time to give the opposite meaning to the statement. This is where a little trick comes in handy - prefix un. In English this prefix is quite common. He is "friends" with verbs and adjectives. Ability to use un- will significantly expand your vocabulary and give confidence in your abilities during a conversation with a foreigner.
The prefix un in English. Examples
So let's see what is a prefix un- in English.
1. John's arrival was absolutely unexpected.
John's arrival was completely unexpected.
2. I have already heard this unreal story.
I've heard this unreal story before.
3. Please undo your coat and sit down.
Please unzip your coat and sit down.
4. You look unbelievable!
You look incredible!
5. Who is that unattractive young guy?
Who is that unattractive young man?
Agree, it is much easier and more beautiful to say "John's arrival was unexpected" how "John's arrival wasn't expected" . Both options are correct, but why not diversify your speech a little?
List of words on the topic "prefix un in English"
Unfortunately, there are no clear rules when you can or cannot add to words prefix un in English. Such cases simply need to be remembered. heard a word from un- checked in the dictionary, took note. Seen in the text - did the same. And for starters, I advise you to pay attention to the list that will help you remember the first words with prefix un-.
unhappy - unhappy
undone - unfinished, unfinished
unimaginable - unimaginable
unable - unable
unchain - release
unusable - unusable, unsuitable
unpleasant - unpleasant
unsafe - unsafe
uncomfortable - uncomfortable
unwanted - unwanted
unspoken - unspoken, unspoken
unnatural - unnatural
unsuccessful - unsuccessful, unsuccessful
unsuccess - futility
unlucky - unlucky
untidy - sloppy, untidy
unfriendly - unfriendly
unreliable - unreliable
unusual - unusual, unusual
unlimited - unlimited, unlimited, endless
unbearable - unbearable
