Prefixes

In words like 'preview' and 'preheat', what does the prefix 'pre-' mean?

• Again

• Not

• Before

• Wrongly

Answer explanation

The prefix 'pre-' means 'before' in time or order. A preview is a view before, and to preheat is to heat before.

Match each prefix to the root word it can join with to form a new, meaningful word.

• act

• trans-

• marine

• mis-

• judge

• inter-

• port

• sub-

Answer explanation

Each prefix combines with a root word to create a new word: 'sub-' + 'marine' = 'submarine' (under the sea), 'inter-' + 'act' = 'interact' (to act between), 'trans-' + 'port' = 'transport' (to carry across), and 'mis-' + 'judge' = 'misjudge' (to judge wrongly).

Read the sentence below.

The directions for the project were unclear, which caused a lot of confusion.

In the sentence, what does the word unclear mean?

• Not clear

• Very clear

• Clear again

• Clear before

Answer explanation

The prefix 'un-' means 'not' or 'the opposite of'. Therefore, 'unclear' means not clear.

Sort these words based on the meaning of their prefixes into the categories: Means 'Again' or Means 'Not'.

Groups:

(a) Means 'Again'

,

(b) Means 'Not'

• replay

• disagree

• rewrite

• unhappy

• unplug

• redo

Answer explanation

The prefix 're-' means 'again', so 'redo', 'rewrite', and 'replay' fit that category. The prefixes 'un-' and 'dis-' mean 'not' or the opposite, so 'unhappy', 'disagree', and 'unplug' fit the other.

Which word best completes the sentence? I didn't hear the instructions, so I _________ what the teacher said.

• preheard

• reheard

• misheard

• disheard

Answer explanation

The prefix 'mis-' means 'wrongly' or 'badly'. 'Misheard' means to hear something incorrectly, which fits the context of not understanding the instructions.

If a story is described as 'nonfiction', what does the prefix 'non-' tell you about it?

• The story is imaginary.

• The story is based on facts and is not fake.

• The story is about to be written.

• The story is very long.

Answer explanation

The prefix 'non-' means 'not'. 'Nonfiction' means it is not fiction; it is based on real events, facts, and people.

Match each prefix to its most common meaning.

• Across or beyond

• co-

• Together or with

• mis-

• Wrongly or badly

• trans-

• Between or among

• inter-

Answer explanation

Each prefix is correctly matched with its definition: 'mis-' (wrongly), 'inter-' (between), 'trans-' (across), and 'co-' (together).

My older brother and I often 'disagree' on which movie to watch. What does 'disagree' mean?

• To agree later

• To not have the same opinion

• To agree strongly

• To agree incorrectly

Answer explanation

The prefix 'dis-' means 'not' or 'opposite of'. Therefore, to 'disagree' means to not agree or to have a different opinion.

Sort these words into two groups based on their prefix type: Negative Prefixes (meaning 'not' or 'opposite') or Positional Prefixes (meaning 'where' or 'when').

Groups:

(a) Negative Prefixes

,

(b) Positional Prefixes

• impossible

• unhappy

• preschool

• submarine

• interstate

• dislike

Answer explanation

'un-', 'dis-', and 'im-' are negative prefixes. 'pre-' (before), 'sub-' (under), and 'inter-' (between) are positional prefixes that describe location or time.

Which word means to judge someone incorrectly before knowing all the facts?

• prejudge

• rejudge

• disjudge

• adjudge

Answer explanation

The prefix 'pre-' means 'before'. To 'prejudge' someone is to form a judgment about them before you have enough information.