Negative Prefixes
Negative Prefixes
Negative Prefixes
By Eigopass
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.
affirmative
Tom is happy.
negative
negative prefix
not
Tom is unhappy.
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
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
Homework : Read the following sentences and choose which prefix is needed for the word in
parenthesis.
1.