UNIT
43
Word formation: privative and other affixes Main privative suffixes -LESS
Typically used to form the opposites of adjectives ending in -FUL useful ➝ useless
helpful ➝ helpless
fearful ➝ fearless
flawed ➝ flawless
Note! Nouns formed from these adjectives typically take the suffix -ness: hopeless ➝ hopelessness Main privative prefixes UNIN-
This privative suffix is the most frequent one and it can be used for all types of words likely ➝ unlikely
sure ➝ unsure
less ➝ unless
aware ➝ unaware
correct ➝ incorrect
sane ➝ insane
secure ➝ insecure
credible ➝ incredible
Note! Remember that IN- is not only a privative prefix. For example, invaluable doesn’t mean valueless: it actually means precious (=having great value) IM-
possible ➝ impossible
polite ➝ impolite
mortal ➝ immortal
pure ➝ impure
IL- / IR-
relevant ➝ irrelevant
regular ➝ irregular
logical ➝ illogical
legal ➝ illegal
DIS-
pleased ➝ displeased
agree ➝ disagree
like ➝ dislike
courage ➝ discourage
MIS-
behave ➝ misbehave
lead ➝ mislead
place ➝ misplace
print ➝ misprint
DE-
attached ➝ detached
inflate ➝ deflate
ascend ➝ descend
increase ➝ decrease
Other prefixes OUT-
(often means more than) outdo (=do better) outnumber (=be more) outlive (=live longer)
UNDER-
(often means less than) undergo
OVER-
(means excessively)
overwhelming
underestimate
understatement
overcome
oversleep
Note! Some groups of words belonging to the same family may be confusing because they can take different negative affixes. Compare the following: active ➝ inactive (adjective) – deactivate (verb=make sth inactive) able ➝ unable (adjective) – disable (=verb) / disabled (=adjective) – inability belief ➝ disbelief (noun) – unbelievable (adjective) doubt ➝ doubtlessly (adverb) – undoubtedly (adverb) care ➝ careless (= not paying enough attention) – carefree (=having no worries) fortune ➝ unfortunate (adjective) – unfortunately (adverb) – misfortune (noun)
1
Write the opposites of the words in the box under the correct headings. accuracy available literate morality print -less
un-
conscious relevant
fearful honest inhabited interpret respectful satisfied sensitive thoughtful
in- / il- / im- / ir-
dis-
mis-
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