NEGATIVE PREFIXES

The following prefixes added to the beginning of adjectives, adverbs and verbs, give them the opposite meaning:

For example: Loyal - Disloyal

Lucky - Unlucky

Tolerant - Intolerant

Some of these prefixes are only attached to a noun or an adjective while some are only attached to a verb. It is not possible to predict whether the negative prefix un-, in-, or dis- is used with a particular word. The correct form must be learned.

• The negative prefix un-

  This prefix is normally attached to an adjective or a noun to form an adjective or a noun:

  Undesirable (Adj.)	Not wanted
  Unemployment (N.)	No work, job
  Unforgetable (Adj.)	That will stay forever in memory
  Unkind (Adj.)	Not friendly

• The negative prefixes in-, im-, il-, ir-

  This prefix is normally attached to an adjective. The resulting word remains an adjective.

  Prefiixes + initial consonant of the attached root	Words	Meaning
  il + l	illegal (Adj.)	Against the law, not legal
  il + l	illiterate (Adj.)	Not able to read or write
  im + b	imbalanced (N.)	Not balance
  m + p	impossible (Adj.)	Not possible
  im + m	immeasurable (Adj.)	No able to be measured
  ir + r	irregular (Adj.)	Not regular
  ir + r	irresponsible (Adj.)	Not responsible

• The negative prefix dis- 'not, opposite of, away'

  This prefix is normally attached to a verb, an adjective or a noun. The resulting words can be a verb, an adjective or a noun.

  Words	Meaning
  disappear V.)	become no longer visible
  discount (N.)	To reduce the price
  dishonest (Adj.)	Not honest