WORD FORMATION: NEGATIVE WORDS
Negative Prefixes
Prefixes are added to the front of the base of the word and they usually don’t
change the kind of word.
In this case, we use these prefixes to turn this words into their negative form.
Prefix Usage
un- it is used before
adjectives that start with
a vowel or a consonant
in- it is used with consonants
and vowels, except ‘i’ or
‘u’
im- it is used before words
beginning with the letters
‘b’, ‘m’ and ‘p’
ir- it is used before words
starting with the letter ‘r’
il- it is used before words
beginning with the letter
Examples
fortunate  unfortunate
comfortable  uncomfortable
just  unjust
forgettable  unforgettable
reliable  unreliable
interesting  uninteresting
helpful  unhelpful
convenient  inconvenient
expensive  inexpensive
variable  invariable
complete  incomplete
sane  insane
mature  immature
patient  impatient
probable  improbable
balanced  imbalanced
perfect  imperfect
possible  impossible
replaceable  irreplaceable
rational  irrational
responsible  irresponsible
regular  irregular
legal  illegal
logical  illogical
 ‘l’ literate  illiterate
non- it is used before words sense  nonsense
starting with a consonant existent  nonexistent
or a vowel (and magical  non-magical
sometimes are neutral  non-neutral
hyphenated) essential  non-essential
dis- it is used before words loyal  disloyal
that begin with a vowel or agree  disagree
a consonant appear  disappear
honest  dishonest
assemble  disassemble
mis- it is used before words informed  misinformed
starting with a consonant understand  misunderstand
or a vowel calculated  miscalculated
aligned  misaligned