Reading Skills - Prefixes

A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change the meaning of the word (known as the root word). In this lesson you will practice with the seven prefixes listed below. Study the chart before beginning the activities.

Prefix
 Meaning
Examples
dis- opposite of, apart, away, not disagree, disappear,  discontinue
en- cause to be, put in or on enclose, enforce, entangle, enrage
mis- wrong misspell, miscalculate, misdeed
pre- before: in place, in time, in rank, in order preview, prepay, precook
re- again, back return, redo, retie
sub- under, beneath submarine, substandard
un- not, in reverse unhurt, unafraid, unreal

 

  1. Which of the following prefixes can you add to the base word way to make a word that means "an underground passage"?

    a. dis-
    b. en-
    c. sub-
    d. pre-
     
  2. Choose the best phrase to complete the following sentence.

    If a person is a preteen, the person is ______________.

    a. under the age of 13
    b. between 13 to 19 years old
    c. older than 19 years old
    d. 15 years old
     
  3. List two ways a person could endanger his/her life while swimming in the ocean.

    ___________________________________________

    ___________________________________________

     
  4. Which of the following words does not belong?

    unprotected  undefended  unpleasant  unshielded
     
  5. Choose which prefix you could add to the base word pick to form a new word.

    a. un-
    b. dis-
    c. sub-
    d. en-
     
  6. Circle the words below which are incorrect.

     
    unstuck unregular unwrap unname unheard unafraid unroll unmoral
    unpick unequal unview uncap unpossible uncover unlegal undirect


     

  7. Choose the correct answer to complete the sentence.

    Combining _____________ with re- forms a word that means "replay or repeat".

    a. move
    b. manage
    c. flow
    d. run
     
  8. Add dis to a word so that the following sentence will make sense.

    The policeman had to arm the robber before he was able to make an arrest.
     
  9. Circle the words below which are incorrect.

     
    misname mistreat misview misplace mislabel misequal misspell mishonest
    mislegal miseven misfortune miscertain misspend misplay misdirect misregular


     

  10. Which of the two words below could you add to the word web?

     misbehavior mismanage mislead disobedience unwanted mistrust


     
  11. Which of the following actions does NOT describe an action others would find disapproving?

    a. a sixteen year old failing the test to get a driver's license
    b. a child comes home late
    c. a police officer pulling over a drunk driver
    d. a teammate scoring the winning touchdown
     
  12. Which of the following prefixes can you add to the base word school to make a word that means "a school for children who are not old enough to attend kindergarten"?

    a. mis-
    b. en-
    c. sub-
    d. pre-

     
  13. Which one of the prefixes below would you add to finished to make a word that means "not having received special processing, such as dyeing or varnishing"?

    a. sub-
    b. re-
    c. un-
    d. pre-
     
  14. Which of the following is not enriched?

    a. living in poverty
    b. soil with fertilizer
    c. an appreciation of art
    d. milk with vitamin D
     
  15. Circle the words below which are incorrect.

     
    presort prefraud pretest prepackage preoccupy preeven preheat precertain
    prehistoric preexist prehonest preview preuse preregular prename prepossible

 

----------Key----------

  1. c
  2. a
  3. Answers will vary.
  4. unpleasant
  5. a
  6.  
    unstuck unregular unwrap unname unheard unafraid unroll unmoral
    unpick unequal unview uncap unpossible uncover unlegal undirect
  7. d
  8. The policeman had to disarm the robber before he was able to make an arrest.

  9.  
    misname mistreat misview misplace mislabel misequal misspell mishonest
    mislegal miseven misfortune miscertain misspend misplay misdirect misregular
  1. misbehavior disobedience
  2. d
  3. d
  4. c
  5. a

  6.  
    presort prefraud pretest prepackage preoccupy preeven preheat precertain
    prehistoric preexist prehonest preview preuse preregular prename prepossible