Unit 23: Prefixes: when letters need changing
Page 8 of 9
Do prefixes behave like suffixes?
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The good news is: the root words never change when you add a prefix. |
You need to take care when the root word begins with the same letter as the end of the prefix:
| dissolve | unnecessary | innovation | misspell |
But only because you need to remember to use them both!
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Mostly, the prefix just needs adding as it is, but sometimes they are spelled differently from the words they are based on: |
| well + come = welcome | well + fare = welfare |
| all + ways = always | all +most = almost |
| all + though = although | all + mighty = almighty |
| all + so = also |
Note: alright or all right?
It is possible to use one word: alright. However, it is better
English to use two words: all right.
You will have seen already that various prefixes mean ‘not’ or ‘opposite’. Sometimes, this is because the word has changed over time to make it more pronounceable. For example:
| regular | literate | mobile |
These use the prefixes -ir, il and im rather than the more common -in:
| ir-regular | il-literate | im-mobile |
Finally, for words that begin with p, we add -im not -in:
| im-possible | im-proper |
You have not completed Learn the Words activities for the word list on this page.
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