Prefixes

Inglés Profesional 2
Marco Antonio Meza Pérez Palma

1
 English words
Words can be broken into parts to help figure out their
meaning and origin:
subscription
prefix + root + suffix
• The root is the main part
• scrip = to write
• The prefix comes before the root
• sub = under
• The suffix comes after the root
• tion = act of
 abducted

ab + duct + ed
prefix + root + suffix
away from + to lead/pull + verb: past tense

abducted means ”pulled or lead away from”

i.e. The general was abducted by masked gunmen.
 More than one root
• Roots can appear more than once and anywhere in the
word.
Word Meaning
geology earth study / study of the earth

Telegraph distance writing / writing that travels far

tricycle three wheels

asocial not being companionable / not wanting to join

others
 Prefixes and suffixes

Prefixes: Suffixes:
un- undo -ful joyful
re- refill -ly sadly
un for forward -ness kindness

Prefixes are at the beginning

ly
Suffixes are at the end of
of words. words.
pre- means before
fix means attach, repair
So, “prefix” means “attached
before.”

fortunate
 Roots and affixes
• Root
• is a set of letters that have meaning
• It is the basis of the word .
• Affixes
• Added to the root to create a new word.
• Before: prefix
• After: suffix
• Example:
• The Latin root -ject means “throw”
• So project can mean “to throw forward”

• A root can be at the front, middle or end of a word.

 Greek and Latin roots
Many words in the English language are based on Greek & Latin word roots.
(G) indicates that a root is Greek in origin, and (L) indicates that a root
is Latin.
1. Psych — (G) Mind 4. Vac — (L) Empty
Psychology (the study of the Vacuous (having an empty
mind) mind, not thinking)
2. Phil — (G) Love 5. Ver — (L) True
Cinephile (movie lover) Veritable (real, true, authentic)
3. Struc — (L) Build 6. Scrib/Scrip — (L) Write
Structure (parts or pieces built Prescription (a written note
into something complex) signed by a doctor which
provides instructions
for medicine or treatment)
 Greek and Latin roots

7. Mega — (G) Great, large 11. Mar — (L) Sea

Megaphone (a large device which Marina (a port or harbor for boats
makes your voice louder) and ships)
8.  Mono — (G) Single 12. Manu/Mani — (L) Hand
Monochromatic (having only one Manicure (a treatment to make your
color) hands look clean, neat and polished)
9.  Luc — (L) Light 13. Min — (L) Small
Lucid (bright, clear) 10. Mal — (L) Bad Miniscule (very small in size)
10. Malevolent (wanting to do bad or evil 14. Fort — (L) Strong
things) Fortitude (strength)
 Greek and Latin roots
15. Mort — (L) Death
Mortician (someone who prepares
dead bodies to be buried)
16. Nas/Nat — (L) Birth
Nascent (coming into existence,
something just recently created)
17. Trans — (L) Across
Transatlantic (something which
crosses the Atlantic Ocean)
18. Voc/Vos — (L) Voice
Vociferous (loud, someone who
speaks loudly or talks a lot
19. Aqua — (L) Water
Aquarium (a tank of water where
fish are kept as pets)
20. Bene — (L) Good
Benevolent (wanting good things
for people, generous, kind)
21. Chron — (G) Time
Chronological (organized by time
of occurrence)
22. Bio — (G) Life
Biology (the study of living things)
 Greek and Latin roots
23. Theo — (G) God
Theology (the study of religion)
24. Phone — (G) Sound
Telephone (a device used to talk
with other people)
25. Omni — (L) All
Omniscient (knowing everything)
26. Sens/Sent — (L) Feel
Sentimental (emotional,
attaching emotional value to
things)
27. Terr — (L) Earth
Terrarium (a container for land
animals kept as pets, contains
rocks, dirt or sand)
28. Vid/Vis — (L) See
Visible (able to be seen)
29. Auto — (G) Self
Automatic (happens on its
own)
30. Poly — (G) Many
Polyglot (person who can
speak many languages)
 Examples
Prefixes Suffixes
Prefix Meaning Example Suffix Meaning Example
re- back, refill -ful Having careful
again -less Without, joyless
tri- three triplet missing

un- not undo -ly In the hopefully

manner of

An example of a prefix is re- which means back/again

So recall means: call again
An example of suffix is –ful
So careful means with care
 Self assessment
Add a prefix to the following verbs to change the meaning to the
opposite
Example: do → undo .
place → missplace .

1. wrap ______________ 6. understand ___________

2. use ____________ 7. fold ___________
3. agree ____________ 8. spell ___________
4. engage ____________ 9. connect ___________
5. behave ____________ 10. close ___________
 Self assessment
Complete each word with a prefix chosen from the list.
re- post- over- pre- super-
Example: He has to reconsider (consider) his decisión.
11. We hope the bus won’t be _________(crowded).
12. Do you think he will be ______ (elected) for a second time?
13. He did ______ (doctoral) work at Oxford after his Ph. D.
14. He took ______ (cautions) against burglary by installing an alarm.
15. The tourist guide promised the tourists that they would get a ______
(fund) if they did not like the trip.
16. He added a ______ (script) at the end of the letter.
17. That ______ (sonic) plane flies from New York to Paris in two hours
and forty minutes.
 Self assessment
Complete the meanings of these sentences by using the correct
form (noun or verb) of the words in parentheses.
Example: Have they told you of theirarrival
__________ date? (arrive)
18. The police have __________ with the hijackers for hours.
(negotiate)
19. Have you __________ the dried foodstuff yet? (package)
20. The __________ of the hi-jacked plane is still uncertain.
(destine)
 Answer key

1. wrap unwrap
2. Use misuse 11. overcrowded.
3. Agree disagree
12. reelected 18. negotiated
4. Engage disengage
5. Behave misbehave 13. postdoctoral
19. unpackaged
6-understand misunderstand 14. precautions
7- fold unfold 20. destination
15. refund
8- spell misunderstand
16. postscript
9- connect     disconnect
10- close disclose 17. supersonic