Prefix

Prefix

A prefix is a word party added to the beginning of a word. The prefix changes the meaning of some words to their opposites. For example, when prefix in- is added to justice, the result is injustice; when the prefix mis- is added to

understanding, the result is misunderstanding. A prefix need not change a word to

its opposite, but it will alter the meaning of the word in some way. For instance, when the prefix re-(meaning again) is added to view, the result is review, which means to view again. When the prefix mal- (meaning bad) is added to practice, the result is malpractice, which means bad or improper practice.

1. mono alone,one

2. trans across,over,beyond

Example

After the full moon rose, Lawrence Talbott was (...formed) transformed into the wolfman.

A. The interpreter (...lated) ___________ the speech in to sign language.

B. She hates the student in her psychology course who tries to (...polize)____________ the class discussion time.

C. As soon as they (...ported) ___________ the stolen cigarettes across the state line, they were guilty for federal offense.

D. A (...poly) ____________ occurs when one person or group exerts unfair control over others.

E. Some people use yoga or other Eastern disciplines to try to (...cend) ____________ everyday cares and difficulties.

Now write a sentence using one of the word before the slash like and a sentence using one of the words that appear after the slash.

monologue monotony mononucleosis / transplant transition transparent

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3. dis apart, away

4. pre before

A. She (...cards) ____________________ friends the way some people throw away clothing they no longer want.

B. I would be frightened to go to a fortune-teller if he or she truly had the ability to (...dict)____________ the future.

C. The speaker was (...composed) _________________ by the conversations that when on during his talk.

D. I sometimes have a tendency to (...judge) _____________ people; only when i meet them do i find out how biased I’ve been.

E. I worry about germs taking over the house if I don't (... infect) ________________ the bathroom once a week.

disorient dispassionate dissatisfied / presume preliminary prevention

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5. inter between, among

6. sub under, below

A. During the halftime (...val) _____________ at the football game,i ran out to get a pizza.

B. Cold medicines will (...due) _____________ a cold, but they won’t cure it.

C. She has the bad habit of (...rupting) ________________ people when they are in the midst of making a point.

D. Seeing whether and how (...head) ______________ relate to main heads in a text is an important reading skill.

E. My mother would constantly (...fere) ______________ in my relationship with my first girlfriend, who lived next door to us.

interact interject intercom / subdivide subvert submerged

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7. ex out

8. mis badly, wrong

A. In grade school i shunned the pursuit of grades and majored in (...conduct) ___________.

B. Snakes are often (...represented)_______________ as slimy; in fact, they feel pleasantly dry and cool.

C. If a football player doesn’t learn how to (...ecute) _____________ or carry out, a play properly, he will soon lose his job.

D. One day Mel suddenly realized that he had (...treated) _______________ his children in the same way his father had been unfair to him.

E. When Raid wasn’t enough, i called in an (...terminator) ___________________ to battle the roaches.

exorcist exhaust exclamation / misspelling mismatch

misunderstanding

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9. con together, with

10. post after, following, later

A. A (...mortem) _________________ examination was not needed to reveal the obvious cause of death: a wooden stake through the heart.

B. He could hardy walk across the attic floor because of the (...glomeration) _________________ of items piled there.

C. His (...operative) ________________ condition was poor, and so he was put in the intensive care unit.

D. Part of me often wants to (...form) _______________ to the group; the other part of me wants to follow the beat of my own drummer.

E. She feels persecuted and believes that everyone is (...spiring) _____________

against her.

congested concur conflict / postnasal postpone postscript

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11. anti against

12. pro before; for (in favor of)

A. The (...posal) _________________ to legalize gambling was placed on the state ballot.

B. Because i had forgotten to put in (...freeze) _______________, my car’s radiator turned into a block of ice one frigid winter morning.

C. The main purpose of marriage, according to some religions is (...creation) ______________------ that is , having children.

D. Even though the new cold remedy was no more effective than others on the market, millions of dollars were spent to (...mote) ____________ it.

E. If an (...dote) _____________ is not given within minutes after the bite of a cobra, death is almost a certainly.

antiseptic antipathy antithesis / proponent promise progress

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13. un not, reverse

14. ad to, toward

A. The (...hesive) ________________ tape stuck to his fingers more than it stuck to the package.

B. Because she finds it difficult to tolerate (...certainty)_________________, she quickly closes her mind on many issues.

C. (...diction) _______________ to alcohol or other drugs is a major problem in our country.

D. The dog continued to run around the neighborhood (...restrained) _______________, and so someone decided to call the police.

E. People who feel very depressed are likely to have (...productive) ______________ workdays,

unreasonable unfamiliar uncompromising / address advise advocate

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15. in not, within

16. extra more than

A. The school principal showed (...ordinary) ____________ composure when the first grader shrew a rock at him.

B. Students who do well in (...curricular) ___________ activities but earn poor grades are mistaking the sideshow for the main event.

C. Because of (...adequate) _____________ funds, the school athletic program was canceled.

D. The old father in the play was driven mad by the (...gratitude) ________________ of his daughters.

E. The instructor explained that the class would be run in an (...formal) __________ way, for she wanted students to be relaxed.

incompetent inaudible insatiable / extrasensory extravagance extramarital

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17. re again back

18. mal bad

A. In many poor families in Appalachia, you will find children and adults suffering from (...nutrition) _______________.

B. After her (...covery) ______________ from a pulled leg muscle, the tennis pro went on to have a great year.

C. The politician was convicted of (...feasance)________________ in office and was sentenced to a one-week jail term.

D. Most students agree that they should (...view) ___________ their notes right after class, but few take the time to do so.

E. Psychologists advise parents to give children

(...inforcement)__________________ --compliments and rewards for doing well.

relapse recount reflect / malpractice malfunction maladjusted

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19. com with, together with

20. de down,from

A. (...munal)__________ living is difficult for someone who feels a strong need for privacy.

B. An entire block of houses had been (...molished) _______________ in order to build the shopping center.

C. The man who stopped to help us change our flat tire

(...meaned)______________ himself afterward by asking for $5.

D. If i did not (...ply) __________ with my parents’ household rules, I would be punished.

E. Homes (...preciated) _______________ in value as soon as plans for a nearby airport were publicized.

compatible combine companion / descend deplore detract

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