Forming opposites
Study these definitions. How do the prefixes dis- and mis- and un-, in- and im- change the
meaning of a word? With what kind of words can we use these prefixes?
spell write or name the letters of a word.
misspell write or name the wrong letters for a word.
obey do what you are told to do.
disobey not do what you are told to do.
aware in a state of knowing.
unaware in a state of not knowing.
accurate careful, exact.
inaccurate not careful or exact.
probable likely to happen.
improbable not likely to happen.
Give the opposite of the words in the tables below.
VERB OPPOSITE
like _____________________
spell _____________________
agree _____________________
believe _____________________
understand _____________________
cover _____________________
dress _____________________
connect _____________________
please _____________________
ADJECTIVE OPPOSITE
able _____________________
possible _____________________
capable _____________________
necessary _____________________
patient _____________________
proper _____________________
correct _____________________
conscious _____________________
complete _____________________
polite ____________________
ˇ The prefixes il- and ir- are also used to form the opposite of some adjectives (illegal,
irregular, etc.).