Lesson 1: A Wider Range of Prefixes
Word Formation & Morphology (B2)
Welcome to our B2 series on Word Formation! You already know how prefixes1 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 morphology2 will allow you to decode hundreds of new words.
Prefixes of Time & Order
| pre- (before) | preview, prehistoric, pre-war | We saw a preview of the new movie. |
| post- (after) | post-war, postgraduate | The country saw rapid development in the post-war era. |
| re- (again) | review, rebuild, redo | Please review your notes before the exam. |
Prefixes of Degree or Size
| over- (too much) | overeat, overcrowded, overworked | I felt sick because I overate at the buffet. |
| under- (not enough) | underestimate, underpaid, underground | Do not underestimate your opponent. |
Other Useful Prefixes
| co- (with, together) | co-worker, cooperate, co-pilot | My co-workers are very friendly and helpful. |
| mis- (wrongly, badly) | misunderstand, misfortune, mislead | 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.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. The prefix "re-" usually means ______.
- a) before
- b) again
- c) too much
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) again
2. If you eat too much, you ______.
- a) undereat
- b) re-eat
- c) overeat
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) overeat
3. If you understand something incorrectly, you ______ it.
- a) co-understand
- b) misunderstand
- c) post-understand
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) misunderstand
edit Your Mission
- My Words: Create your own sentences using these words: `rebuild`, `overcrowded`, and `co-worker`.
- 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.
- 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.")
book Lesson Glossary
- Prefix (noun) - Khmer: បុព្វបទ - A group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. ↩
- Morphology (noun) - Khmer: សរីរវិទ្យា - The study of how words are formed and how their forms change. ↩
- re- (prefix) - A prefix meaning "again". ↩
- over- (prefix) - A prefix meaning "too much". ↩
- under- (prefix) - A prefix meaning "not enough" or "below". ↩
- co- (prefix) - A prefix meaning "with" or "together". ↩
- mis- (prefix) - A prefix meaning "wrongly" or "badly". ↩