Words with un-, dis-, in-, im- and non-

Key Notes:-

Prefix Meanings:

• Un-: Not or opposite of (e.g., unfair, unable)
• Dis-: Opposite of or reverse action (e.g., dislike, disconnect)
• In-: Not or into (e.g., invisible, inject)
• Im-: Not or opposite of (e.g., impossible, imperfect)
• Non-: Not or opposite of (e.g., nonstop, nonsense)

Word Formation:

• Explain how adding these prefixes can change the meaning of a base word (e.g., “happy” to “unhappy”).

Prefixes Overview

• Definition: Prefixes are letters or groups of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
• Purpose: They can negate a word, reverse its meaning, or indicate the opposite.

1. Prefix: un-

Meaning: Not or opposite of.

Examples:

• Happy → Unhappy (not happy)
• Known → Unknown (not known)
• Fair → Unfair (not fair)

Usage Tips:

• Un- is often used to reverse the meaning of an adjective or verb.

2. Prefix: dis-

Meaning: Not, opposite of, or reverse.

Examples:

• Agree → Disagree (not agree)
• Like → Dislike (not like)
• Connect → Disconnect (reverse connection)

Usage Tips:

• Dis- is frequently used with verbs and adjectives.

3. Prefix: in-

Meaning: Not or into.

Examples:

• Active → Inactive (not active)
• Complete → Incomplete (not complete)
• Direct → Indirect (not direct)

Usage Tips:

• In- can be used to negate adjectives and nouns. It can also mean “into” when combined with some words (e.g., insert).

4. Prefix: im-

Meaning: Not or into (usually before b, m, or p).

Examples:

• Possible → Impossible (not possible)
• Moral → Immoral (not moral)
• Patient → Impatient (not patient)

Usage Tips:

• Im- is used similarly to in-, but specifically for words starting with b, m, or p.

5. Prefix: non-

Meaning: Not or absence of.

Examples:

• Sense → Nonsense (absence of sense)
• Profit → Nonprofit (not for profit)
• Stop → Nonstop (without stopping)

Usage Tips:

• Non- is often used to negate nouns and adjectives.

Let’s practice!