PREFIXES

PREFIXES

A prefix is placed at the beginning of a word to modify or change its meaning. This is a list of the most common prefixes in English, together with their basic meaning and some examples. You can find more detail or precision for each prefix in any good dictionary.

A prefix goes at the beginning of a word. A suffix goes at the end of a word.

The origins of words are extremely complicated. You should use this list as a guide only, to help you understand possible meanings. But be very careful, because often what appears to be a prefix is not a prefix at all. Note also that this list does not include elements like "auto-" or " bio-", because these are "combining forms", not prefixes.

prefix		meaning	examples
a-	also an-	not, without	atheist, anaemic
a-		to, towards	aside, aback
		in the process of, in a particular state	a-hunting, aglow
a-		of	anew
		completely	abashed
ab-	also abs-	away, from	abdicate, abstract
ad-	also a-, ac-, af-, ag- al-, an-, ap-, at- as-, at-	movement to, change into, addition or increase	advance, adulterate, adjunct, ascend, affiliate, affirm, aggravate, alleviate, annotate, apprehend, arrive, assemble, attend
ante-		before, preceding	antecedent, ante-room
anti-	also ant-	opposing, against, the opposite	anti-aircraft, antibiotic, anticlimax, Antarctic
be-		all over, all around	bespatter, beset
		completely	bewitch, bemuse
		having, covered with	bejewelled
		affect with (added to nouns)	befog
		cause to be (added to adjectives)	becalm
com-	also co-, col-, con-, cor-	with, jointly, completely	combat, codriver, collude, confide, corrode
contra-		against, opposite	contraceptive
counter-		opposition, opposite direction	counter-attack, counteract
de-		down, away	descend, despair, depend, deduct
		completely	denude, denigrate
		removal, reversal	de-ice, decamp
dia-	also di-	through, across	diagonal
dis-	also di-	negation, removal, expulsion	disadvantage, dismount, disbud, disbar
en-	also em-	put into or on	engulf, enmesh
		bring into the condition of	enlighten, embitter
		intensification	entangle, enrage
ex-	also e-, ef-	out	exit, exclude, expand
		upward	exalt, extol
		completely	excruciate, exasperate
		previous	ex-wife
extra-		outside, beyond	extracurricular
hemi-		half	hemisphere
hyper-		beyond, more than, more than normal	hypersonic, hyperactive
hypo-		under	hypodermic, hypothermia
in-	also il-, im-	not, without	infertile, inappropriate, impossible
	also il-, im-, ir-	in, into, towards, inside	influence, influx, imbibe
infra-		below	infrared, infrastructure
inter-		between, among	interact, interchange
intra-		inside, within	intramural, intravenous
non-		absence, negation	non-smoker, non-alcoholic
ob-	also oc-, of-, op-	blocking, against, concealing	obstruct, occult, offend, oppose
out-		surpassing, exceeding	outperform
		external, away from	outbuilding, outboard
over-		excessively, completely	overconfident, overburdened, overjoyed
		upper, outer, over, above	overcoat, overcast
peri-		round, about	perimeter
post-		after in time or order	postpone
pre-		before in time, place, order or importance	pre-adolescent, prelude, precondition
pro-		favouring, in support of	pro-African
		acting for	proconsul
		motion forwards or away	propulsion
		before in time, place or order	prologue
re-		again	repaint, reappraise, reawake
semi-		half, partly	semicircle, semi-conscious
sub-	also suc-, suf-, sug-, sup-, sur-, sus-	at a lower position	submarine, subsoil
		lower in rank	sub-lieutenant
		nearly, approximately	sub-tropical
syn-	also sym-	in union, acting together	synchronize, symmetry
trans-		across, beyond	transnational, transatlantic
		into a different state	translate
ultra-		beyond	ultraviolet, ultrasonic
		extreme	ultramicroscopic
un-		not	unacceptable, unreal, unhappy, unmanned
		reversal or cancellation of action or state	unplug, unmask
under-		beneath, below	underarm, undercarriage
		lower in rank	undersecretary
		not enough	underdeveloped

I WISH/ IF ONLY

I WISH/ IF ONLY

Wishes about the present

We use wish with past Tense forms (simple and continuous) to express regret about present situations:

• I wish I was taller = (I’m not very tall)
• I wish I was going with you = (but I'm not)

• I wish you were more help. = (you are not) I wish I were can replace I wish I was.

To many people, I wish I were sounds more correct:

• I wish I were taller.

We use wish with could to express a wish for a present situation to be different:

• I wish I could use a computer well.
• I wish I would tell her about it.
• I wish I could tell her about it.

Past Simple > present>I wish I knew the answer. (= I don’t know)

Past Simple > present > I wish I was /were better at sports. (= I'm not)

Past Continuous > present > I wish I was /were going with you. (= I'm not)     

Could > present > I wish I could give you an answer. (= I can't)

Would > future > I wish you would be quiet. (= Your talking irritates me.)

Past Perfect > past > I wish I had known you then. (= but I didn't)

Could have > past> I wish I could have explained. (= I wasn't able to)

Wishes about the future

We use wish with would to say how we would like somebody to behave in the future:

X I wish you to stop talking.

/I wish you would stop talking.

X I wish that they will stop arguing.

/I wish they would stop arguing.

• We can also use this pattern in situations that do not involve people:

I wish this car would go faster.

Wishes about the past

We use wish with the Past Perfect when we have

Regrets about the past:

I wish I hadn't taken your advice. (= but I did)

I wish she could have come. (= but she didn't)

If only

If only can be more emphatic than I wish. The verb forms after if only are the same as the patterns with wish:

If only I had more money! (= but I haven't)

If only I was going on holiday with you!

If only you were here. (= but you re not)

If only the sun would come out!

If only you could be here! (= but you're not)

If only I'd listened to you! (=but I didn't )

If only he could have explained! (=but he wasn't able to)

VIDEOS AND SONGS

CONDITIONALS

ZERO, 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD CONDITIONALS

LEARN WITH FUN¡¡¡¡ 

LEARN CONDITIONALS WITH MUSIC¡¡¡

MIXED CONDITIONALS

EXERCISES

The Zero Conditional Exercises

Make zero conditionals: 

For example:
 (not / rain / the flowers / die) ____
If it doesn’t rain, the flowers die.
1. (I / wake up late / I / be late for work) _______________________________________________________________

2. (my husband / cook / he / burn the food) _______________________________________________________________

3. (Julie / not wear a hat / she / get sunstroke)
_______________________________________________________________

4. (children / not eat well / they / not be healthy) _______________________________________________________________

5. (you / mix water and electricity / you / get a shock) _______________________________________________________________

 6. (people / eat / too many sweets / they / get fat) _______________________________________________________________

7. (you / smoke / you / get yellow fingers) _______________________________________________________________

8. (children / play outside / they / not get overweight) _______________________________________________________________

9. (you / heat ice / it / melt) _______________________________________________________________

10. (I / speak to John / he / get annoyed) _______________________________________________________________






HERE YOU CAN REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS:
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/support-files/conditionals_zero_form.pdf

First Conditional Exercises

FIRST CONDITIONAL EXERCISE

Put the verb into the correct first conditional form:
 1. If I __________________ (go) out tonight, I __________________ (go) to the cinema.

2. If you __________________ (get) back late, I __________________ (be) angry.

 3. If we __________________ (not / see) each other tomorrow, we __________________ (see) each other next week.

4. If he __________________ (come), I __________________ (be) surprised.

5. If we __________________ (wait) here, we __________________ (be) late.

6. If we __________________ (go) on holiday this summer, we __________________ (go) to Spain.

7. If the weather __________________ (not / improve), we __________________ (not / have) a picnic.

 8. If I __________________ (not / go) to bed early, I __________________ (be) tired tomorrow.

 9. If we __________________ (eat) all this cake, we __________________ (feel) sick.

 10. If you __________________ (not / want) to go out, I __________________ (cook) dinner at home.





HERE YOU CAN REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS:
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/support-files/first_conditional_form.pdf

Second Conditional Exercises

Second Conditionals  
Put the verb into the correct tense: 

1. If I _________________ (be) you, I _________________ (get) a new job.

 2. If he _________________ (be) younger, he _________________ (travel) more.

3. If we _________________ (not / be) friends, I _________________ (be) angry with you.

 4. If I _________________ (have) enough money, I _________________ (buy) a big house.

5. If she _________________ (not / be) always so late, she _________________ (be) promoted.

6. If we _________________ (win) the lottery, we _________________ (travel) the world.

7. If you _________________ (have) a better job, we _________________ (be) able to buy a new car

8. If I _________________ (speak) perfect English, I _________________ (have) a good job.

 9. If we _________________ (live) in Mexico, I _________________ (speak) Spanish.

10. If she _________________ (pass) the exam, she _________________ (be) able to enter university.



HERE YOU CAN REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS:
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/support-files/second_conditional_form.pdf

Third Conditionals Exercises

Third Conditional: 
Put in the correct third conditional verb form:


1. If you ______________ (not / be) late, we ______________ (not / miss) the bus.

 2. If she ______________ (study), she ______________ (pass) the exam.

 3. If we ______________ (arrive) earlier, we ______________ (see) John.

4. If they ______________ (go) to bed early, they ______________ (not / wake) up late.

 5. If he ______________ (become) a musician, he ______________ (record) a CD.

6. If she ______________ (go) to art school, she ______________ (become) a painter.

7. If I ______________ (be) born in a different country, I ______________ (learn) to speak a different language.

8. If she ______________ (go) to university, she ______________ (study) French.

9. If we ______________ (not / go) to the party, we ______________ (not / meet) them.

10. If he ______________ (take) the job, he ______________ (not / go) travelling.




HERE YOU CAN REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS:
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/support-files/third_conditional_form.pdf

MIXED CONDITONAL EXERCISES:

Finish the sentences with a clause in the correct conditional:


1: If it is sunny tomorrow _______________________________________________


2: If you sit in the sun too long __________________________________________


3: If I were you _______________________________________________________


4: If I were the Prime Minister ___________________________________________


5: If she had studied harder _____________________________________________


6: If I won the lottery __________________________________________________


 7: If I hadn’t gone to bed so late _________________________________________


8: If I hadn’t come to London ___________________________________________


 9: If you mix water and electricity ________________________________________


10: If she hadn’t stayed at home __________________________________________


11: If I go out tonight___________________________________________________


 12: If I were on holiday today ____________________________________________


 13: If I had listened to my mother _________________________________________


 14: If I hadn’t eaten so much _____________________________________________


15: If it rains later ______________________________________________________


 16: If I were British ____________________________________________________


 17: If I were the opposite sex ____________________________________________


18: If I have enough money ______________________________________________


19: If you don’t wear a coat in the winter ___________________________________


20: If I weren’t studying English __________________________________________




HERE YOU CAN REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS:
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/support files/all_conditionals_form_mixed_exercise.pdf

I WISH/ IF  ONLY EXERCISES

Complete the sentence with the correct tense of the verb in brackets.

1. We always have to take the bus home. I wish we (not live)  so far from the city centre

2. We are completely soaked. I wish we (bring)  the umbrella

3. He is always whistling. I wish he (not do)  that all the time

4. We are having a wonderful holiday on the beach. I wish you (be)  here

5. This computer is useless. I wish my parents (choose)  a better one when they bought it

6. She's got a new job but she feels bored. She wishes her boss (give)  her more responsibility.

7. He's sorry he missed the wedding ceremony. He wishes he (go) 

8. I wish my neighbours (not make)  so much noise. I can hardly sleep at night

9. Citizens wish their leaders (start)  doing something to improve the economic situation

10. They have lots of money. Even so, they wished they (have)  more and more

Write a sentence using  "wish"

1. I ate too  much and now I have stomachache.

2. His parents would like him to look after himself

3. I can't smoke anywhere now. The anti-smoking law is so restrictive!

If only 

4. It's a pity we don't own a boat, I love sailing.

5. My pupils keep talking in class all the time and I can't handle it.

6. Visiting the museum was interesting but it would have been nicer to go to the beach

7. Next Christmas I would like to stay at home for a change

 next Christmas 

8. He never brings me flowers on our anniversary

9. I failed all my exams. I should have studied harder.

If only 

10. I don't like being so tall

HERE YOU CAN REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS:

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=5841

PREFIXES EXERCISES

Choose the right answer.

1. His behavior is      .

 inacceptable unacceptable

2.       nutrition is a major problem in many countries of the world.

 Inadequate Unadequate

3. She is impatient, inattentive, and      .

 impredictable inpredictable unpredictable

4. The opposites of "common, fair, sociable" are formed with the prefix      .

 in un

5. The opposites of "convenient, famous, sufficient" are formed with the prefix      .

 in un

6. Her remark about his family was impolite and      .

 disrespectful irrespectful misrespectful

7. I'm very sorry. I probably       your book, and now I can't find it.

 displaced misplaced unplaced

8. The start button is activated and       by pushing this lever up and down.

 deactivated diactivated disactivated desactivated

9. Have you read the       to this book?

 foreword forword forward

10. I forgot to tell you that we had some       expenses during our trip.

 unforeseen unforseen

HERE YOU CAN REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS:

http://usefulenglish.ru/writing/spelling-exercise-four

CONDITIONALS

What are conditionals in English grammar? Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'. They describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but didn't (in the past) . They are made using different English verb tenses.

There are four kinds:

NOW LET'S LEARN ABOUT THEM¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

The Zero Conditional

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and one in the 'main clause'):

• If + present simple, .... present simple.

This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water reaches 100 degrees, it always boils. It's a fact. I'm talking in general, not about one particular situation. The result of the 'if clause' is always the main cluase.

The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning.

For example: If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. (It is always true, there can't be a different result sometimes). If I eat peanuts, I am sick. (This is true only for me, maybe, not for everyone, but it's still true that I'm sick every time I eat peanuts)

Here are some more examples:

If people eat too much, they get fat. If you touch a fire, you get burned. People die if they don't eat. You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen. Snakes bite if they are scared If babies are hungry, they cry

The First Conditional

The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simplein the other clause:

• if + present simple, ... will + infinitive

It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.

• If it rains, I won't go to the park.
• If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
• If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.
• She'll be late if the train is delayed.
• She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.
• If I see her, I'll tell her.

First vs. Zero Conditional:

The first conditional describes a particular situation, whereas the zero conditional describes what happens in general.

For example (zero conditional): if you sit in the sun, you get burned (here I'm talking about every time a person sits in the sun - the burning is a natural consequence of the sitting)

But (first conditional): if you sit in the sun, you'll get burned (here I'm talking about what will happen today, another day might be different)

First vs. Second Conditional:

The first conditional describes things that I think are likely to happen in the future, whereas the second conditional talks about things that I don't think will really happen. It's subjective; it depends on my point of view.

For example (first conditional): If she studies harder, she'll pass the exam (I think it's possible she will study harder and so she'll pass)

But (second conditional): If she studied harder, she would pass the exam (I think that she won't study harder, or it's very unlikely, and so she won't pass)

The Second Conditional

The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:

• if + past simple, ...would + infinitive

(We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal writing).

It has two uses.

First, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true. Maybe I'm imagining some dream for example.

• If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I probably won't win the lottery)
• If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.
• She would travel all over the world if she were rich.
• She would pass the exam if she ever studied.(She never studies, so this won't happen)

Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true. Is that clear? Have a look at the examples:

• If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for me to call him).
• If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.

How is this different from the first conditional?

This kind of conditional sentence is different from the first conditional because this is a lot more unlikely.

For example (second conditional): If I had enough money I would buy a house with twenty bedrooms and a swimming pool (I'm probably not going to have this much money, it's just a dream, not very real)

But (first conditional): If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes (It's much more likely that I'll have enough money to buy some shoes)

The Third Conditional

We make the third conditional by using the past perfect after 'if' and then 'would have' and the past participle in the second part of the sentence:

• if + past perfect, ...would + have + past participle

It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result of this situation.

• If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study and so she didn't pass)
• If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick).
• If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane
• She wouldn't have been tired if she had gone to bed earlier
• She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university
• He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine