Spelling tips for prefixes Prefix choices Making words with prefixes
Which word has a prefix? Prefix writing exercise Prefix wordsheet
Prefixes – An Introduction
Prefixes are made up of two or three letters and are placed at the beginning of words. Adding a prefix can do two things to a word:
So what’s the difference between “slightly different” and “completely different” meanings?
Take the word, “cover”. On its own this word has a couple of meanings. Most of them have to do with being under or inside something:
We took cover under a tree.
I tucked the duvet inside its cover.
If the prefix, “re” is put in front of “cover”, the new word “recover” gives two possible meanings:
I had to re-cover the roof rack after the wind blew the tarpaulin away.
I had to recover the tarpaulin after the wind blew it off the roof rack.
The first sentence features the slight change made to “cover”. By adding “re” and a hyphen (-), the word still refers to having something under something (re-covering the roof rack with the tarpaulin).
The second sentence contains a complete change of meaning. “Recover” now means trying to get something back.
I stopped to recover my energy.
He tried to recover the letter from the fire.
This change of meaning by adding a prefix can be demonstrated with a couple of other words using “cover”:
Discover
Uncover
How do I recognise a prefix?
The rule is, if you take away the first two or three letters and still have a proper word, then you’ve taken away the prefix.
BUT BE CAREFUL!!! You may find a word using the letters of a prefix, but it might not be using a prefix at all. Examples might include:
Real, uncle, disco and there are many others. Take the first two letters away from these words and there won’t be a word left! In general any word made up of one beat (syllable) doesn’t use any prefixes. Prefixes are used in longer words.
Generally the best rule to stick with is, “Does it still leave a word if I take the first two or three letters away?” If it does then the word has been using a prefix.
Prefix wordsheet presented via www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/prefixes.htm.