Prefix
Meaning: a word, letter, or number placed before another
In English grammar, a prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to
change its meaning. For example, the prefix “un-” can be added to the word “happy” to
create the word “unhappy,” which means not happy.
Here are some rules for using prefixes in English:
● Prefixes are usually added to the beginning of a word without any changes to the
base word’s spelling.
● Prefixes can change the meaning of a word, make it negative, or express
relations of time, place, or manner
● Some common prefixes include “anti-,” “auto-,” “de-,” “dis-,” “extra-,” “hyper-,” “il-,”
“im-,” “in-,” “ir-,” “inter-,” “mega-,” “mis-,” “non-,” “over-,” “post-,” “pre-,” “pro-,” “re-,” and
“un-”
● There are no absolute rules for when to use a hyphen with prefixes. A good
learner’s dictionary will tell you how to write a prefixed word.
How do I know which prefix to use?
Choosing the right prefix can be tricky, but here are some tips to help you:
● First, you need to understand the meaning of the prefix you want to use. For
example, the prefix “un-” means “not,” while the prefix “pre-” means “before”.
● Next, consider the meaning of the base word and how you want to modify it. For
instance, if you want to express negation, you can use prefixes like “dis-” or
“non-”.
● You can also use prefixes to indicate relations of time, place, or manner. For
example, the prefix “post-” means “after,” while the prefix “sub-” means “under” or
“below”.
● Finally, consult a good learner’s dictionary to ensure that you are using the
correct prefix and spelling it correctly.
Give me some examples of prefix?
Prefix Meaning Example
anti- against, opposite antifreeze
auto- self, same autobiography
de- opposite, remove deactivate
dis- not, opposite of disagree
extra- beyond, outside of extraordinary
hyper- over, excessive hyperactive
il- not, opposite of illegal
im- not, opposite of impossible
in- not, opposite of incorrect
ir- not, opposite of irregular
inter- between, among international
mega- large, great megaphone
mis- wrong, bad misunderstand
non- not, without nonfiction
over- too much, above overcook
post- after, behind postgraduate
pre- before, in front of preview
pro- for, forward promote
re- again, back rewrite
un- not unhappy
What is the difference between suffix and prefix?
In English grammar, a prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to
change its meaning, while a suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word to
change its meaning.
For example, in the word “unhappy,” “un-” is the prefix that means “not,” and “-happy” is
the suffix that means “feeling or showing pleasure or contentment”.
Here are some key differences between prefixes and suffixes:
● Prefixes are added to the beginning of a word, while suffixes are added to the end
of a word.
● Prefixes can change the meaning of a word, make it negative, or express
relations of time, place, or manner. Suffixes can change the part of speech of a
word, make it plural or possessive, or indicate tense.
● Prefixes usually do not change the spelling of the base word, while suffixes often
do.
● There are no absolute rules for when to use a hyphen with prefixes. A good
learner’s dictionary will tell you how to write a prefixed word.
Common mistakes of prefix:
Using the wrong prefix: Sometimes people use the wrong prefix, which can change the
meaning of the word in unintended ways. For example, “un-” means “not,” while “dis-”
means “opposite of” or “away from”.
● Adding a hyphen unnecessarily: While some prefixed words require a hyphen,
others do not. A good learner’s dictionary will tell you how to write a prefixed
word.
● Using an incorrect spelling: Prefixes are usually added to the beginning of a word
without any changes to the base word’s spelling. However, there are some
exceptions to this rule.
