Skill 15
Recognize Prefixes and Their Meanings

Prefixes are letter groups that are placed at the beginning of a word to change or alter its meaning in some way. A prefix modifies a word to create another word or thought.

For example, the prefix pre- means “before.” If you add the prefix pre- to the word view, you get a new word, preview, which means “to see before.” If you preview a movie, perhaps you are seeing it before it officially opens. For another example, suppose you add the prefix pre- to the word condition. The new word precondition means “a condition or requirement that was set beforehand.” For example, a background check might be a precondition for getting hired as a security guard. Not all words that start with pre- convey the idea of “before” or “ahead,” but many do. So using pre- as a prefix with certain root words creates many other words in our language.

But pre- isn’t the only prefix. Here are a few others that are very helpful to know.

Examples

Here are some sentences from the reading passages in the previous sections of this book in which prefixes were used to alter the meaning of a word. Each of the words with prefixes is bolded so that you can see it.

• If you want to get rid of your old computer, options include recycling, reselling, and donating.

• Many scientific studies have identified a relationship between elevated levels of fine particles and increased illness and premature death from heart and lung disorders, such as asthma and bronchitis.

• The song’s rousing refrain recalls the early struggles of a nation.

• The only object more reflective is Enceladus, a geologically active moon of Saturn whose surface is continuously recoated with highly reflective ice by active geysers.

• These results reinforce the call for revitalized protection of our nation’s waterways and long-overdue action to protect the American people.

• The Internet gives buyers access to a world of goods and services, and gives sellers access to a world of customers.

• It’s only a matter of time before all the tigers disappear from the planet and it will be our fault if we don’t act.

• It is now clear that everyone—from homeowners and local leaders to state and federal agencies—must share the responsibility of preventing and preparing for wildfires.

Test Yourself!

For each prefix listed in the table, think of some additional words that include that prefix. Write the words in the column on the right.