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SAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

ENGLISH LESSON NOTES 23
CLASS 7
MODULE: 23 :PREFIX AND SUFFIX
READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY:
A prefix is a group of letters placed before the root of a word. For example, the word
“unhappy” consists of the prefix “un-” *which means “not”+ combined with the root (or stem)
word “happy”; the word “unhappy” means “not happy.”
Prefixes change the meanings of words
Let’s look at this short list of prefixes:
Prefix Meaning Examples

de- from, down, away, reverse, opposite decode, decrease

dis- not, opposite, reverse, away disagree, disappear

ex- out of, away from, lacking, former exhale, explosion

il- not illegal, illogical

im- not, without impossible, improper

in- not, without inaction, invisible

mis- bad, wrong mislead, misplace

non- Not nonfiction, nonsense

pre- Before prefix, prehistory

pro- for, forward, before proactive, profess,
program

re- again, back react, reappear

un- against, not, opposite undo, unequal, unusual
A prefix is a letter or a group of letters that we add to the beginning of a word.
Points to remember:
the prefix un- (or u-n) can mean "not," "remove," or "opposite."
Adding un- to the word "happy" gives you the word "unhappy," which means
not happy.
U-n and r-e (or re-) are the two most common prefixes in the English language.
Re- means "again" or "back," such as in the words "rethink" "redo" and "repay."