Adjectives with negative affixes: Part 2

Read the article about negative prefixes in English.

NEGATIVE PREFIXES

Many English speakers often come across as suspiciously cheerful and friendly to other nations. However, we are not always so. And so, we use these negative prefixes to darken our days. I’m joking, of course.

Negative prefixes can actually sometimes make a word positive. Huh? Think about inexpensive (always good), or unforgettable (usually good!).

Read below to learn about the most useful negative prefixes in English.

Un-

Perhaps the most common negative prefix is “un-”, meaning “not”. Unfortunately, you can’t just add it to any word, which seems unfair to lots of learners. This is an unforgettable prefix for most students.

In-

“In-” is another great prefix to learn. It means “not” or “without”. An inexpensive train ticket in the UK is invariably (always, or without variation) a cause for great celebration. However, when you get on that train you might run into people talking loudly on their mobile phone. Or crunching loudly on crisps and getting them all over the floor. How inconsiderate! When it comes to exams, two things you don’t want are an incomplete answer sheets, or one full of incorrect answers. The three prefixes below are used similarly to “in-”.

Im-

“Im-” is often used with words beginning with “b”, “m” and “p”. So this is certainly not an impossible prefix to learn how to use. Immoral behaviour is not something we should condone. And we should definitely pay attention to the gender imbalance in managerial jobs.

Ir-

Used before words starting with “r”. We all know that it is irresponsible to go to a party the night before an exam. It is an irrational thing to do; we think somehow it’ll be OK. Often, the pull of a good night out is completely irresistible.

Il-

Unsurprisingly, “il-” is used before words beginning with “l”. Did you know that it’s technically illegal to damage an image of the Queen of England? So scribbling all over a fifty pound note is not only a waste, but also a punishable offence. And, how can I tell that you, my reader, are not illiterate? Well, because you’ve made it this far. It would be illogical to assume that you had continued reading and understood nothing.

Mis-

“Mis-” means “wrongly”. While learning English there will be some instances of misunderstanding. In contrast to “not understanding”, if you misunderstand, you think you understand, and boldly go forwards. Usually doing the wrong thing. You can also misinterpret someone’s actions towards you. An Englishman in Paris might be thrilled to receive two kisses on the cheek from a lovely French lady, and may misinterpret this as love. Our Englishman would be very misinformed about French customs and behaviour.

Non-

Meaning “not” or “without”. For example, if you meet a Yorkshire man with a very broad accent you might think he is talking nonsense. Certain Yorkshire men are actually more like nontalkers — they can communicate in grunts and mumblings for hours. In some languages, articles are non-existent. That means learners of Russian, for example, don’t have to worry about “a” and ‘the”. Lucky them!

Anti-

“Anti-” means “against”. We can put it in front of lots of nouns, and the list of words is growing all the time. Anti-Brexit, for example, or anti-ageing creams and treatments. Some common words you might need are antisocial, for when you don’t feel like socialising with others. How about antibiotics for when you’re ill? Or an antidote if you get bitten by a poisonous spider on your trip to Australia? Another you might use is anticlimax, when an ending wasn’t as exciting as you’d hoped.

Dis-

Meaning “not” or “opposite of”. No one can disagree that English is an important language to learn nowadays. But, most learners dislike learning English tenses. And they can become very discouraged when they don’t make the progress that they want.

Source: https://blog.lingoda.com/en/negative-prefixes-in-english/

NEGATIVE SUFFIXES

-Less is the most common suffix for negation. It means “without” (treeless, meaningless) or “not doing”, “not affected by” (tireless, selfless).

Source: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

Thirteen adjectives with negative affixes are given in this test. They are as follows: asocial, careless, disinterested, disorganised, impeccable, incredible, unambitious, unbelievable, uneasy, uneven, unfair, unimaginable, and untrustworthy. Choose the one which fits best each situation described.

1. The ... distribution of wealth, be it across a particular country or the world as a whole, is a major source of resentment.

2. The present hotel owners are as ... as their predecessors.

3. Cathy is so ... Apart from forgetting to pay her bills on time, she has missed the bus three times this week.

4. Did you embroider this shirt by hand? This is ...!

5. Evan fidgeted nervously in his chair. He was feeling ...

6. Chris loves his job, but doesn’t bring up the topic of promotion at all. He’s ...

7. Virtuali-Tee is an augmented reality T-shirt that takes you inside the human body. That sounds ..., doesn’t it?

8. If I were you, I’d look for an expert in this field to receive ... advice.

9. I can’t but admire Helen. She remembers all the changes to the manuscript she has edited. Indeed, Helen’s memory is ...

10. Tim hasn’t made any friends since he moved here. Oftentimes, he’s even unwilling to say “Hello” to his neighbours. He is ...

11. Matt gave a brand new tablet for Christmas to his son and just a candy bar to his daughter. To my mind, this is ...

12. As late as the 1990s, things like Segways and electric skateboards were almost ... on city streets.

13. “… Whisper” by George Michael is one of my favourite songs. I listen to it whenever I want to relax.