4. Building vocabulary

Content

This chapter focuses on forming new words, which is very common in academic English. Word formation consists in adding affixes (prefixes and suffixes) to the base (root of the word).  Prefixes are added to the front of the base (agree → disagree) whereas suffixes are added to the end of the base (teach → teacher). Prefixes usually do not change the class of the base word, but suffixes usually do change the class of the word (i.e. changing verbs into nouns).

Understanding the meaning of prefixes and suffixes can help you work out the meaning of a word, and is particularly useful when you meet specialist vocabulary. The ability to flexibly change word forms, changing nouns into verbs or adjectives, is an invaluable skill for academic writing and comprehension, enhancing your confidence in navigating complex texts.

4.1 Prefixes and verbs

The table shows the most common prefixes added to the base verbs.

e.g. prefix + verb → verb

Prefix Meaning Examples
1.     re- again or back restructure, revisit, reappear, rebuild, refinance
2.     dis- reverses the meaning of the verb disappear, disallow, disarm, disconnect, discontinue
3.     over- too much overbook, oversleep, overwork
4.     un- reverses the meaning of the verb unbend, uncouple, unfasten
5.     mis- badly or wrongly mislead, misinform, misidentify
6.     out- more or better than others outperform, outbid
7.     be- make or cause befriend, belittle
8.     co- together co-exist, co-operate, co-own
9.     de- do the opposite of devalue, deselect
10.  fore- earlier, before foreclose, foresee
11.  inter- between interact, intermix, interface
12.  pre- before pre-expose, prejudge, pretest
13.  sub- under/below subcontract, subdivide
14.  trans- across, over transform, transcribe, transplant
15.  under- not enough underfund, undersell, undervalue, underdevelop

Task 1

Read the following sentences focusing on the verbs with prefixes and complete the table with the prefixes.

  1. They agreed to cooperate with Brazil on a programme to protect the rain forests.
  2. The reorganization will transform the entertainment industry.
  3. Researchers want to know how these gases interact.
  4. They plan to rebuild the house extensively after the fire.
  5. These four regions are further subdivided into 24 provinces.
  6. You should not belittle yourself because your work is highly valued.
PREFIX MEANING OF THE PREFIX EXAMPLE VERB
again/back
rebuild
make/cause
belittle
together
cooperate
between
interact
under/below
subdivide
across/over
transform

Task 2

Complete the sentences by adding appropriate prefixes to the root of the verbs and match the verbs with their meanings.

  1. We use email to (FACE) with our customers.
  2. We need to (VISIT) this proposal as soon as the budget is clearer.
  3. The boss (RATE) her for being late.
  4. The two communities (EXIST)
  5. If it is a large contract, the consultant may (CONTRACT) parts of it.
  6. The director (POSE) Shakespeare´s play form 16th century Venice to present-day England.
MEANING OF THE VERB VERB
to move st to a different place
to communicate with someone
to consider or discuss st again
to criticize sb in an angry manner
to exist together
to pay an outside organisation to do work

Task 3

Read the following sentences and complete the table with the meaning of the prefixes and verbs.

  1. She was very demotivated by being told she had little chance of being promoted.
  2. Passenger are permitted to unfasten their belts.
  3. My computer crashes every time I disconnect from the internet.
  4. They were deliberately misinformed about their rights.
PREFIX MEANING OF THE PREFIX EXAMPLE VERB MEANING OF THE VERB
dis disconnect
un unfasten
mis misinform
de demotivate

Task 4

Complete the table by adding an appropriate prefix to the following verbs.

DIS- UN- MIS- DE-

Task 5

Complete the sentences with some of the following verbs.

identify, personalise, continue, veil, value, empower, judge, conduct, integrate, leash, match, mobilise, quote, report, brief, close, allow

  1. I have never said that at all – the press has mis me.
  2. Last year Mexico was forced to de the peso.
  3. The government´s proposal has un a storm of protest in the press.
  4. The company has dis the practice of providing the staff with free lunches.
  5. The pilots were thoroughly de after every mission.
  6. Caroline totally mis the situation and behaved inappropriately.
  7. The spacecraft dis as it entered the earth´s atmosphere.
  8. The memorial to those who had died in the war was un by the Queen.

Task 6

Complete the table by choosing the prefix that corresponds to its meaning, then complete the sentences with the chosen prefix and one of the following verbs. You may need to change the form of the new verb.

PREFIX MEANING
not enough
too much
more or better than
earlier, before
before

Words: perform | estimate | pay | fund | see

  1. The system has been chronically for many years.
  2. They his ability when they promoted him.
  3. The company has consistently its rivals this season.
  4. Nobody could a disaster of such extent.
  5. Parents can for their children´s school lunches online.

Task 7

Form new verbs by completing the table with the following prefixes and choose some of the newly formed verbs to match them with the definitions 1-8.

test number bid book close
judge weigh value sleep cast
expose vote develop work tell
occupy sell rate take shadow
  1. to say something before introducing a more important thing
  2. to offer to pay a higher price for something
  3. to be main thought in sb mind, causing other things to be forgotten
  4. to say what you expect to happen in the future
  5. to act as a warning or sign of a future event
  6. to be greater or more important than something
  7. to go past st by being a greater amount or degree
  8. to sell more tickets or places than available

Task 8

Complete the sentences by finishing the verbs.

  1. I should like to pre my response with the following observation.
  2. The retail group out all three competitors for space in the shopping centre.
  3. There was no seat for me on the plane because the airline had over.
  4. Economic concerns are pre the votes in this election.
  5. They fore a large drop in unemployment over the next two years.
  6. The advantages of this proposal far out the disadvantages.
  7. Our US sales have now over our sales in Europe.
  8. The storms and rains of that year fore a long period of unstable weather conditions.
Previous chapter
Next chapter