Top Twenty Prefixes

1. The Top Twenty The Top Twenty
PrefixesPrefixes
The most commonly-usedThe most commonly-used
word beginnings.word beginnings.

2. What Are Prefixes?
•Prefixes are first syllable word
parts such as “non-” and “re-.”
•They have their own meaning.
•Prefixes combine with words to
create new meanings.
1.Pre + View = Preview (first look)
2.Super + Star = Superstar (top player)
Which prefixes do you think
are the most common?

3. Are prefixes important?
•Prefixes add meaning
to many thousands of
words.
•Learn a few prefixes,
and you open up the
meaning of thousands
of words.
•The four most
frequent prefixes
account for 97% of
prefixed words!
Is there a difference between
fluent and affluent?

4. How do you attach prefixes?
•When you add a prefix to a root word
the spelling of both usually stays the
same.
•An exception is when the prefix 'all' is
added to a root word the final 'l' of
'all' is dropped: all + ways = always.
•Sometimes you can add two prefixes to
a word at once: re + dis + cover =
rediscover.
Have you rediscovered interest
in learning vocabulary?

5. Do you understand not prefixes?
•There are several prefixes which
reverse the meaning of a word.
•An easier way to remember them
is if you think of them to
essentially mean 'not'.
•Negative prefixes include untrue,
improbable, illogical, incomplete,
irrational, and dislike.
Have you rediscovered interest
in learning vocabulary?

6. Do you know these prefixes?
•Anti = against : anti-
war, anti-abortion
•De = opposite :
destroy, defeat
•Dis* = not, opposite
of : disagree, disbar
•En(m) = cause to :
encode, embrace
•Fore = before :
forecast, foretell
•In = in : intake
•Inter = between :
interact, intercept
Do the people in the illustration
disagree with Doug?

7. Do you know these prefixes?
•Mid = Middle : Midway
•Mis = Wrongly :
Mistake
•Non = Not : Nonsense
•Over = Over :
Overlook
•Pre = Before : Preview
•Re* = Again : Return
•Semi = Half :
Semicircle
Is it possible to be in the
middle of nowhere?

8. Do you know these prefixes?
15. Sub = Under :
Submarine
16. Super = Above:
Superstar
17. Trans = Across :
Transport
18. Un* = Not :
Unfriendly
19. Under = Under :
Undersea
20. In, Im, Il, Ir * =
Not : Injustice,
Impossible
Why would a poor community
be under a dark cloud?

9. Which Prefix Fits?
1.I have a different idea; I __agree.
2.That can’t be; it’s just __possible.
3.Say that again; please __peat it.
4.Aliens look bad; they are __friendly.
5.Can weathermen __cast weather?
6.If we’re wrong, we make __takes.
7.Let’s not __look tomorrow’s quiz.

10. Which Prefix Fits?
1.Only __marines travel underwater.
2.What has no meaning is __sense.
3.Trains and trucks provide __port.
4.What can’t be done is __possible.
5.What is put above is __imposed.
6.A first look is called a __view.
7.The middle exam is the __term.

11. Which Prefix Fits?
1.Should children __obey parents?
2.Can __cooked food be __cooked?
3.What does it mean to __heat food?
4.Do bad children __please parents?
5.Which door is the __it to leave?
6.Are you __legal or __documented?
7.Can an __literate person read?

12. Can you use academic words?
•Words: survey, design, select, data,
text.
3.Who plans the __ for a new house?
4.How much information or __ is in
computers?
5.Do you have your __book today?
6.Do you look over or __ a new house?
7.Is it your choice to __ your own lunch?
Have you learned
the vocabulary yet?