A prefix is a word part that is added to the beginning of a word to form another word or to change its meaning. The word to which the prefix is added is called the base word.
Examples:
Prefix base word, new word, un. friendly, unfriendly, pre, pay, prepay
A prefix changes the meaning of the base word.
For example, the prefix un-above means “not”.
Hence, unfriendly means “not friendly”.
Each prefix has its own meaning.
More examples of common English prefixes.
Exercise
Give the meaning of the following prefixes and write two examples each of words in which they are used.
Use your dictionary.
- Ultra- 6. Infra-
- Hypo- 7. Hypo-
- Hemi- 8. Hemi
- Ex- 9. Ex-
- Dia 10. Dia-
Answer
Exercise
- Utra – beyond – ultraviolet, ultrasonic
- Syn – in union – synchronize, symmetry
- Sub – at a lower position – submarine, subsoil
- Peri – round, about – perimeter
- Out – surpassing, exceeding – outperform
- Infra – below – infrared, infrastructure
- Hypo – under – hypodermic, hypothermia
- Hemi – half – hemisphere
- Ex – previous – ex-wife, ex-policeman
- Dia – across, through – diagonal
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Unauthorized copying, reproduction, redistribution or republication of this lesson note without written permission is prohibited.
