ESL Inventory

Prefixes: Examples & Exercises

Have you ever created words changing prefixes? Amazingly enough, it’s possible to understand, but that doesn’t mean the word exists, it just helped you communicate. Let’s have a quick test:

EXERCISE: Prefixes – which one? (Round 1)

Choose the correct prefix to form the correct word so the sentence makes sense.

1 / 10

They had to ____build the house after the fire destroyed it.

2 / 10

This road is very ____safe at night, so be careful.

3 / 10

The movie was ____expectedly good, I thought it would be boring.

4 / 10

The event encouraged ____cultural communication between students from different countries.

5 / 10

He is very ____responsible, he never finishes his work on time.

6 / 10

If you ____connect the wires, the device won’t work.

7 / 10

The shop assistant was very ____helpful, so I had to ask someone else.

8 / 10

This is a ____smoking area, so you’ll have to go outside if you want to smoke.

9 / 10

He was ____qualified for the job, so he didn’t get hired.

10 / 10

He got sick because he ____ate during the holidays.

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Was this too hard? Study the article below and do the exercises at the bottom of the page.

Prefixes by meaning

A Prefix is added to the beginning of words to modify their meaning, such as indicating negation (e.g., un- in unhappy) or direction (e.g., pre- in predict).

1. Time/Order

PrefixMeaningExamplesExplanation
pre-beforepreview, prehistoricIndicates something happening before a time or event.
post-afterpost-war, postgraduateRefers to something occurring after a specific time or event.
fore-before, in front offorecast, forewordSuggests something happening ahead of time or in front.
re-again, backrewrite, returnRefers to doing something again or going back.
ante-beforeantecedent, antedateRelates to something preceding in time or order.
pro-forward, beforeproceed, proactiveIndicates moving forward or being in favor of something.

2. Opposition Prefixes

PrefixMeaningExamplesExplanation
un-not, opposite ofunhappy, undoCreates a negative or opposite meaning.
in-notinactive, incompleteIndicates the absence or negation of something.
im-notimpossible, impoliteUsed before words starting with b, m, or p to mean “not.”
il-notillegal, illogicalUsed before words starting with l to mean “not.”
ir-notirregular, irrelevantUsed before words starting with r to mean “not.”
non-not, withoutnonsense, nonviolentRefers to the absence of something.
dis-not, opposite ofdislike, disconnectSuggests reversal or negation.
a-not, withoutamoral, asymmetryIndicates the absence of something.
mis-wrongly, badlymislead, mistakeRefers to an incorrect or improper action.

3. Size/Quantity

PrefixMeaningExamplesExplanation
bi-twobilingual, bicycleRefers to two or involving two.
multi-manymulticultural, multimediaIndicates many or multiple.
semi-half, partlysemicircle, semi-finalRefers to half or partial.
hemi-halfhemisphere, hemicycleIndicates half of something, often spatial.
poly-manypolygon, polygamyRefers to many or multiple components.
mono-one, singlemonologue, monorailRefers to one or singular.

4. Position/Location

PrefixMeaningExamplesExplanation
sub-under, belowsubmarine, subconsciousIndicates being below or beneath.
inter-between, amonginternational, interactRefers to something occurring between or among.
super-above, beyondsuperhuman, supernaturalSuggests being above, greater, or more than usual.
intra-within, insideintranet, intravenousIndicates being inside or within.
supra-above, oversupranational, supraspinatusRefers to something above or beyond.

5. Direction/Movement

PrefixMeaningExamplesExplanation
ex-out of, away fromexport, excludeIndicates movement out of or away from something.
de-down, away, reversedegrade, descendRefers to downward movement or reversal.
retro-backwardretroactive, retrospectSuggests something related to the past or moving backward.
ob-toward, againstobstacle, objectIndicates facing toward or against something.
e-out of, fromeject, emitRefers to movement out of something.

6. Number Prefixes

PrefixMeaningExamplesExplanation
uni-oneunicycle, uniformRefers to one or singular.
tri-threetriangle, tripodRefers to three or involving three.
centi-hundredcentimeter, centipedeIndicates a hundred or one hundredth.
hexa-sixhexagon, hexadecimalRefers to six.
penta-fivepentagon, pentathlonRefers to five.

7. Degree/Intensity

PrefixMeaningExamplesExplanation
hyper-excessive, overhyperactive, hypertensionRefers to something extreme or excessive.
hypo-under, belowhypothermia, hypoglycemiaIndicates something below normal or deficient.
ultra-beyond, extremeultramodern, ultravioletSuggests something far beyond or extreme.
mega-large, greatmegabyte, megaphoneIndicates something very large or powerful.

8. Personal/Relational

PrefixMeaningExamplesExplanation
self-related to oneselfself-confidence, self-reliantRefers to something concerning oneself.
auto-self, automaticautograph, autonomousSuggests independence or self-action.

9. Science/Medical

PrefixMeaningExamplesExplanation
bio-lifebiology, biographyRefers to life or living organisms.
geo-earthgeography, geologyRelates to the earth or its physical features.
thermo-heatthermometer, thermodynamicsRefers to heat or temperature.
cardio-heartcardiology, cardiovascularRelates to the heart.
neuro-nerveneuroscience, neurologyRefers to nerves or the nervous system.

10. Social/Political

PrefixMeaningExamplesExplanation
xeno-foreign, strangerxenophobia, xenonIndicates something foreign or strange.
socio-society, socialsociology, sociopoliticalRefers to society or social structures.
eco-environment, economyecology, ecosystemRelates to the environment or economy.

11. Others

PrefixMeaningExamplesExplanation
neo-newneoclassical, neonateRefers to something new or revived.
pseudo-false, fakepseudonym, pseudoscienceIndicates something false or not genuine.
arch-chief, principalarchbishop, archenemyRefers to something of the highest rank or importance.
iso-equal, sameisosceles, isobarSuggests equality or sameness.
meta-beyond, changemetaphysics, metamorphosisRefers to something beyond or involving change.
eu-good, welleuphoria, eulogyIndicates something positive or well-being.

Exercises on Prefixes

EXERCISE: Prefixes – which one? (Round 2)

Choose the correct prefix to form the correct word so the sentence makes sense.

1 / 10

This door is ____locked, we don’t need a key to open it.

2 / 10

She is ____able to attend the meeting because she is sick.

3 / 10

He was acting in a very ____honest way, so we didn’t trust him.

4 / 10

I think you ____understood the instructions, let me explain again.

5 / 10

The company will ____pay me for the extra hours I worked.

6 / 10

She was very ____happy with the service and asked for a refund.

7 / 10

It was very ____polite of him to interrupt the teacher.

8 / 10

It is ____legal to park here, you might get fined.

9 / 10

I had to ____write my essay because I lost the first draft.

10 / 10

The food at the restaurant was ____cooked, and I couldn’t eat it.

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EXERCISE: Prefixes – choose the correct word

Choose the correct word to fill the gaps.

1 / 10

They are working to _____ the school building.

2 / 10

The team was _____ about the results.

3 / 10

He can be _____ in meetings sometimes.

4 / 10

That behavior was totally _____.

5 / 10

Our course provides  _____ material.

6 / 10

The _____ situation in the country is changing.

7 / 10

She gave an _____ answer to the question.

8 / 10

Horror films normally explore _____ events to scare people.

9 / 10

The company is launching an _____ campaign.

10 / 10

His speech was very _____.

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Opposition: EngGrammar | SpeakSpeak | EngGrammarAt1 |  EngGrammarAt2 |  EngGrammarAt3 |  EngGrammarAt4 | UsingEnglish1 | UsingEnglish2 |

EngGrammarAt1 | EngGrammarAt2

Feel like diving into more? Verb suffixes | Adverb Suffixes | Adjective Suffixes | Noun Suffixes