Vocabulary: Word Formation & Morphology (B2) - Lesson 1: Wider Range of Prefixes

Lesson 1: A Wider Range of Prefixes

Word Formation & Morphology (B2)

Welcome to our B2 series on Word Formation! You already know how prefixes like 'un-' and 'im-' can create opposites. But prefixes can do much more! They can add concepts like time, number, or degree to a word. Understanding this morphology will allow you to decode hundreds of new words.

Key Vocabulary

• Prefix (noun) | បុព្វបទ
  A group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
• Morphology (noun) | សរីរវិទ្យា
  The study of how words are formed and how their forms change.

Prefixes of Time & Order

• pre- (before)
  Examples: preview, prehistoric, pre-war
  Sentence: "We saw a preview of the new movie."
• post- (after)
  Examples: post-war, postgraduate
  Sentence: "The country saw rapid development in the post-war era."
• re- (again)
  Examples: review, rebuild, redo
  Sentence: "Please review your notes before the exam."

Prefixes of Degree or Size

• over- (too much)
  Examples: overeat, overcrowded, overworked
  Sentence: "I felt sick because I overate at the buffet."
• under- (not enough)
  Examples: underestimate, underpaid, underground
  Sentence: "Do not underestimate your opponent."

Other Useful Prefixes

• co- (with, together)
  Examples: co-worker, cooperate, co-pilot
  Sentence: "My co-workers are very friendly and helpful."
• mis- (wrongly, badly)
  Examples: misunderstand, misfortune, mislead
  Sentence: "I'm sorry, I think I misunderstood the instructions."

Usage Note: Hyphens with Prefixes

Do you need a hyphen (-) after a prefix? The rules can be complex, but here's a simple guide:

• Usually, No Hyphen: Most of the time, we write the prefix and word together (e.g., `rebuild`, `unhappy`, `overeat`).
• Sometimes, Use a Hyphen: With prefixes like `co-`, `pre-`, and `post-`, a hyphen is often used to make the word clearer (e.g., `co-worker` is easier to read than `coworker`).
• Best Advice: When in doubt, check a good online dictionary! It will show you the correct spelling.

In Conversation

Bora and Srey are discussing a difficult project at work.

Bora: Srey, we need to review the project plan. I think we underestimated the amount of work required.

Srey: I agree. I misunderstood the client's request at first. It's more complex than I thought.

Bora: We need to cooperate closely on this with our co-workers. Can we see a preview of the presentation first?

Srey: Of course. My main worry is that the team is overworked from the last project. We don't want them to make mistakes.

Bora: Right. Let's make a new plan so we can rebuild their confidence.

Check Your Understanding

1. The prefix "re-" usually means ______.
   • a) before
   • b) again
   • c) too much
   Answer: b) again

2. If you eat too much, you ______.
   • a) undereat
   • b) re-eat
   • c) overeat
   Answer: c) overeat

3. If you understand something incorrectly, you ______ it.
   • a) co-understand
   • b) misunderstand
   • c) post-understand
   Answer: b) misunderstand

Your Mission

1. My Words: Create your own sentences using these words: `rebuild`, `overcrowded`, and `co-worker`.
2. Find Your Own: Read an English news article. Find one word that uses a prefix from this lesson. Write down the word and the sentence.
3. Speak: Your mission is to use one word with a prefix from this lesson in a conversation. (e.g., "I think you misunderstood me." or "Let's review the plan.")