English in Common 6

Extra Vocabulary Study Prefixes

UNIT 1
1a Read the paragraph and underline twelve prefixes.

On Saturday Mike Johnson, the multi-talented New the brink of disaster. Johnsons manager, Paul Deacon,
Yorkerpreviously a semi-professional basketball said, They outplayed us. I dont know why we
playerrescued a substandard performance by the misfired so badly, but its irrelevant. We got the goals
unimpressive league leaders. With superhuman effort, and we took
Johnson scored two goals in two minutes against home the
archrivals East 80s Soccer Club. Trailing by one goal points.
until the sixty-eighth minute, Johnsons overcautious
team had looked tired and under-prepared. Johnson,
probably the best athlete ever to play for Brooklyn
Soccer, single-handedly brought his side back from

b Read the questions and complete the chart.

1. Which six prefixes are related to degree, size, DEGREE, SIZE NUMBERS OPPOSITE or
or quality? OR QUALITY NEGATIVE
2. Which three are related to numbers? sub multi un
3. Which three give words the opposite or
negative meaning?

c Now add the prefixes in bold in the sentences below to the chart.
1. Johnson had an early chance to score, but was indecisive with his shot.
2. Winning the championship isnt impossible for us, said Deacon.
3. Yeah, we won, said the monosyllabic Johnson.
4. The team looked unmotivated.

(continued on the next page)

Copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.
2 Add a synonym that contains a prefix. Use the root word in parentheses.
Ex: A: Hes a little bit rude!
B: Excuse me?
A: Hes impolite. (polite)
1. A: Our interpretation of the instructions was completely wrong.
B: Excuse me?
A: We completely the instructions. (understand)
2. A: I didnt know that you were a vegetarian.
B: Sorry?
A: I was that you were a vegetarian. (aware)
3. A: Im seventy years old. I quit my main job, but I still work part-time.
B: Pardon?
A: Im . (retire)
4. A: We lost the game because they had more players! There were ten of them, and only six of us.
B: Really? So the numbers werent equal?
A: Thats right. We were completely . (number)
5. A: I should go on a diet. I weigh too much.
B: What?
A: Im . (weight)
6. A: My estimate was wrong. I thought there would be only ten people here, not fifty.
B: Really?
A: Yes, I the number of people. (estimate)

3 Look at the opposites below. Where do you fit on a scale of 15?

1 2 3 4 5

1. talented untalented

2. imaginative unimaginative

3. overpaid underpaid

4. political apolitical

Copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.