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Word Formation — Prefixes

Un-, dis-, mis-, over-, under-, re- — FCE Part 3.

Un- · Dis- · Over- · Under- · Re- · Mis-
B2 Vocabulary

Why prefixes matter

FCE Part 3 regularly tests words with prefixes. A negative prefix changes a word to its opposite; other prefixes change meaning. You must choose the right prefix.
un-
opposite — unhappy, unemployed, uncertain
dis-
opposite — disadvantage, disagree, discrimination
mis-
wrongly — misunderstand, mislead, mismanage
over-
too much — overestimate, overwork, overwhelm
under-
not enough — underestimate, underfund, undermine
re-
again — reconsider, retrain, reorganise

Examples in context

The government underestimated the impact of automation on employment.
Many workers have been misled about the benefits of the new contract.
She felt completely overwhelmed by the pace of technological change.
Workers displaced by automation will need to be retrained.
Cutting the healthcare budget will undermine the welfare system.

More prefix examples

pre-
before — predict, prevent, precaution
out-
more/better than — outperform, outgrow, outnumber
co-
together — cooperate, co-exist, co-create
inter-
between — interconnected, interact, interdependent

Summary

Negative
un- · dis- · in- · im- · ir- · il-
Degree
over- (too much) · under- (not enough)
Manner
mis- (wrongly) · re- (again) · pre- (before)
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