english grammer

English grammar

Lesson 4 - Prefixes

Prefixes

A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to form a new word, the meaning of which is usually different in some way from that of the original word.

Examples:

• a. Susan unpacked her suitcase and took out her clothes.

• b. He was so weak that it was impossible for him to go to work.

• c. Some people think that 13 is an unlucky number.

• d. The cooking oil was tested and found to be unpure.

• e. We usually refer to a non - living thing as 'it'.

• f. Salim was so nervous that he answered the questions incorrectly.

Explanations:

• In a, unpacked = un + packed

• In b, impossible = im + possible

• In c, unlucky = un + lucky

• In d, unpure = un + pure

• In e, non - living = non + living

• In f, incorrectly = in + correctly