Introduction to ‘Words with un-‘
Hello class! Today, we’re going to learn about a common prefix in English: un-. A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. The prefix un- usually means “not” or “the opposite of.”
What Does ‘un-‘ Mean?
When you see un- at the start of a word, it often tells you that something is the opposite of what the root word means.
Examples of Words with ‘un-‘
- Happy → Unhappy: If someone is unhappy, they are not happy.
- Known → Unknown: Something that is unknown is not known.
- Tie → Untie: To untie means to do the opposite of tying something.
Key Rules for Using ‘un-‘
- Meaning: Remember, un- usually means “not” or “the opposite of.”
- Spelling: When adding un-, make sure to keep the root word’s spelling the same.
- Use with Adjectives and Verbs: un- is commonly used with adjectives (like happy) and verbs (like tie).
Tips and Tricks
- Memorise Common Words: Try to remember some common words with un-. This will help you recognise them when reading.
- Practice: Use these words in sentences to get comfortable with their meanings.
- Think of Opposites: When you see un-, think about what the opposite would be. This can help you guess the meaning.
Questions
Easy Level Questions
- What does the prefix un- mean?
- Give one example of a word with un-.
- What is the opposite of happy?
- True or False: unknown means “not known.”
- What happens when you add un- to tie?
- Is unfair an example of a word with un-?
- What does unhappy mean?
- Create a sentence using the word unknown.
- Which word is the opposite of kind?
- True or False: untie means to tie something.
Medium Level Questions
- What does the prefix un- indicate about the word “unusual”?
- Write a sentence with the word unpleasant.
- What is the opposite of comfortable?
- Can you think of a situation where something might be unpredictable?
- What does unbelievable suggest about something?
- True or False: unpack means to pack something again.
- Create a sentence using the word uncommon.
- What do you think the word unemployed means?
- Is untrustworthy positive, negative, or neutral? Explain your answer.
- What is an example of something that can be unseen?
Hard Level Questions
- Explain how the meaning of a word changes when you add un- to it.
- Write a paragraph using at least three words with un-.
- How does the prefix un- help you understand the word unearth?
- What does unfathomable imply about something?
- Create a metaphor or simile using the word unbreakable.
- What might an unfiltered opinion be like?
- Discuss the meaning of unravel in both a literal and figurative sense.
- How does the prefix un- affect the tone of a sentence?
- Can you invent a new word with un- and explain its meaning?
- Why is it important to understand prefixes like un- in English?
Answers
Easy Level Answers
- Not or the opposite of.
- Unhappy.
- Unhappy.
- True.
- To untie means to open something that was tied.
- Yes.
- Not happy.
- The answer to the question was unknown.
- Unkind.
- False.
Medium Level Answers
- It means not usual.
- The food was unpleasant.
- Uncomfortable.
- A weather forecast might be unpredictable.
- It suggests something hard to believe.
- False.
- Uncommon events are rare.
- Not having a job.
- Negative; it suggests you cannot trust them.
- Like a ghost or something hidden.
Hard Level Answers
- It makes the word signify the opposite meaning.
- Example: The journey was unusual, the weather was unpredictable, and the outcome was unbelievable.
- It means to discover something that was buried or hidden.
- It means something that is difficult to understand or measure.
- Example: “Her determination was unbreakable, like a diamond.”
- It might be very honest and raw.
- Literally, it means to undo something tied, figuratively, it can mean to solve a problem.
- It can make a sentence sound more serious or negative.
- Example: “Unjoyful” meaning not joyful.
- Understanding prefixes helps us guess meanings and improve vocabulary.
