1. Exploring prefixes dis- un- inter- il- ir- pre- mis- sub- anti-
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Want to know what a prefix is? Click here
Exploring prefixes
dis-
un-
inter-
il-
ir-
pre-
mis-
sub-
anti-
Kindly contributed to the Adult Basic Skills Resource Centre by Jennifer Baines, Park Lane College, Leeds.
May 2007.
Adult literacy curriculum links:
Ww/L1.2 Spell correctly words used most often in work, studies and daily life. Know and ...(a)  apply a range of methods (visual, phonetic, kinaesthetic, analogies, mnemonics ) to help learn and remember correct spellings (b) apply some spelling rules to help attempt and check spellings
Ww/L2.1 Spell correctly words used most often in work, studies and daily life, including familiar technical words. (a) know and apply a range of methods (visual, phonetic, kinaesthetic, use of analogies, mnemonics) to help learn and remember correct spellings (b) understand how knowledge of root words, prefixes and suffixes can support spelling, including the spelling of some technical words 
Rw/L1.3 recognise and understand an increasing range of vocabulary, applying knowledge of word structure, related words, word roots, derivations and borrowings (b) understand that prefixes can provide clues to meaning.
Rw/L2.1 read and understand technical vocabulary (c) understand that technical vocabulary is often coined by adapting/extending meanings of existing words and word patterns, or building new words using known roots / suffixes / prefixes and that this can provide clues to meanings of unknown words. e.g. computer memory, astronaut, micro-surgery
Click the prefix you want to study

2. dis- ‘dis-’ has several meanings one of which Type the correct
is ‘not’
When using the prefix
dis- simply attach it to
the root word!
You don’t need to alter
the spelling.
I disconnected the television and
video cables so that I could move
them around the room.
Type the correct
spelling into each box.
disatisfied / dissatisfied
disservice / diservice
disallow / dissallow
Can you discover more words
starting with ‘dis’ in the
dictionary?

3. un- ‘un-’ has several meanings one of which is ‘not’
When using the prefix
un- simply attach it to
the root word!
You don’t need to alter
the spelling.
The ground was uneven
and so I tripped over.
Type the correct
spelling in each box.
unatural / unnatural
unnobtrusive / unobtrusive
uneven / unven
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘un’ in the
dictionary?

4. inter- ‘inter-’ has several meanings one of which is ‘between’
When using the prefix
‘inter-’ simply attach it to
the root word!
You don’t need to alter
the spelling.
Add ‘inter-’ to these words. If
you are unsure of their
meanings then look them
up.
mediate
national
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘inter’ in the
dictionary?

5. il- The prefix ‘il-’ most often means ‘not’ When using the prefix
il- simply attach it to
the root word!
You don’t need to alter
the spelling.
Type the correct
spelling in each box.
ilogical / illogical
illegitimate / ilegitimate
illegal / ilegal
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘il’ in the
dictionary?

6. ir- ‘ir-’ has several meanings one of which is ‘not’
When using the prefix
‘ir-’ simply attach it to
the root word!
You don’t need to alter
the spelling.
Type the correct
spelling in each box.
iregular / irregular
iresponsible / irresponsible
Use the dictionary to look up the
word irrational. Try to explain its
meaning and use it in a sentence
of your own.

7. pre- ‘pre-’ means ‘before’ Example: pre + view = preview
I went to see a preview of
the latest action movie.
(preview = advanced
showing)
Pre view
Add ‘pre-’ to the words inside the
boxes.
Look up their meaning in the
dictionary if you need to.
Write them into sentences to show
their meaning.
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘pre-’ in the
dictionary?

8. mis- ‘mis-’ means ‘wrongly’ or ‘badly’ When adding ‘mis-’ as a
prefix there is no need to
change the spelling of the
root word.
e.g.
He was confused because
he misunderstood the
instructions.
Add ‘mis-’ to the words inside the
boxes.
Look up their meaning in the
dictionary if you need to.
Write them into sentences to show
their meaning.
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘mis-’ in the
dictionary?

9. sub- ‘sub-’ means ‘under’. Example: sub + marine = submarine.
(A submarine goes under
water).
Add ‘sub’ to the following words.
Look up their meaning in the
dictionary if you need to.
Write them into sentences to show
their meaning.
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘sub-’ in the
dictionary?

10. anti- ‘anti-’ means ‘against’. Example: anti + social = antisocial.
(unsociable / opposed to the
community)
Add ‘anti’ to the following words.
Look up their meaning in the
dictionary if you need to.
Write them into sentences to show
their meaning.
Can you look up more words
Starting with ‘anti-’ in the
dictionary?

11. What’s a prefix?
A ‘prefix’ is part of a word that you can add to the front of a ‘root’ word to change its meaning.
Example:
prefix root word = new word
un happy = unhappy
(not happy)