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Negative Prefixes

This document discusses English negative prefixes that are used to form the opposites of affirmative statements and terms. It provides examples of common negative prefixes like un-, non-, in-, dis-, and their uses. For instance, the prefix "un-" can be added to the adjective "happy" to create the negative form "unhappy". The document also notes exceptions and words where the prefix does not have a negative meaning.

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95 views

Negative Prefixes

This document discusses English negative prefixes that are used to form the opposites of affirmative statements and terms. It provides examples of common negative prefixes like un-, non-, in-, dis-, and their uses. For instance, the prefix "un-" can be added to the adjective "happy" to create the negative form "unhappy". The document also notes exceptions and words where the prefix does not have a negative meaning.

Uploaded by

Santiago Perramon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NEGATIVE PREFIXES

Negative statements are the opposite of affirmative statements. In English, one way
to make negative statements is by adding negative prefixes to nouns, adjectives, and
verbs. Here are some English negative prefixes: a–, dis–, il–, im–, in-, ir–, non–
, un–.

For example, the prefix un- can be attached to the adjective happy to
create the negative adjective unhappy. Or you can use the negative
adverb not. Note that there is no difference in meaning between these
two forms.

affirmative negative

negative prefix not

Tom is happy. Tom is unhappy. Tom is not happy.

Words that take a– as a negative prefix always begin with


a consonant.

affirmative negative

political apolitical

sexual asexual

theist atheist

Words that take dis– as a negative prefix may begin with a vowel or a
consonant.

affirmative negative

agree disagree
comfort discomfort

mount dismount

orient disorient

Words that take il– as a negative prefix always begin with the letter l.

affirmative negative

legal illegal

legible illegible

literate illiterate

logical illogical

Words that take im– as a negative prefix always begin with the
letter m or p.

affirmative negative

mobile immobile

moral immoral

perfect imperfect

possible impossible

Words that take in– as a negative prefix can begin with a vowel
(except i or u) or a consonant.
affirmative negative

accurate inaccurate

eligible ineligible

organic inorganic

decent indecent

sane insane

Note: There are many words that begin with in– that are not words
with a negative prefix. For example:

word does not mean

incline not cline

indulge not dulge

insist not sist

invoke not voke

Words that take ir– as a negative prefix always begin with the letter r.

affirmative negative

rational irrational

reconcilable irreconcilable
regular irregular

resistible irresistible

Words that take non– as a negative prefix may begin with a vowel or a
consonant.

affirmative negative

conformist nonconformist

essential nonessential

fiction nonfiction

sense nonsense

Words that take un– as a negative prefix may begin with a vowel or
consonant.

affirmative negative

able unable

interesting uninteresting

usual unusual

comfortable uncomfortable

helpful unhelpful

prepared unprepared
Remember, not all words that appear to have a negative prefix are
negative.

word does not mean

alike not like

discuss not cuss

universe not iverse

illuminate not luminate

important not portant

involve not volve

irrigate not rigate

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