Prefixes: Un, Dis, Im, Mis

A prefix is placed at the beginning of a word to change its meaning. For example, the suffix re- means either again or back as in return, repeat or refurbish.

The following 4 prefixes are easy to confuse because they all have a negative meaning.

un-

The prefix un means not, reverse action, deprive of, release from. For example, unable or unfair.

mis-

The prefix mis means wrong. For example, mistake or misunderstand.

dis-

The prefix dis also means not and opposite of. For example, disconnect.

im-

The prefix im can also mean not and opposite of. For example, impossible,

Now choose the correct prefix in the following sentences:

• 1. Available: I tried to speak to the professor, but he was ___.
  
  disavailable
  misavailable
  imavailable
  unavailable
  
  
• 2. Avoidable: The accident was ___.
  
  misavoidable
  imavoidable
  disavoidable
  unavoidable
  
  
• 3. Appeared: My keys seem to have ___. I can't find them anywhere!
  
  misappeared
  unappeared
  imappeared
  disappeared
  
  
• 4. Understood: I think I've ___. Could you please repeat the directions?
  
  imunderstood
  misunderstood
  ununderstood
  disunderstood
  
  
• 5. Tidy: Kevin is so ___. His room is always a mess.
  
  mistidy
  imtidy
  distidy
  untidy
  
  
• 6. Informed: He was angry to find that he had been ___.
  
  uninformed
  disinformed
  misinformed
  iminformed
  
  
• 7. Agree: I think it's a bad idea. I totally ___.
  
  disagree
  misagree
  imagree
  unagree
  
  
• 8. Possible: It's ___ to predict the weather around here.
  
  mispossible
  unpossible
  impossible
  dispossible
  
  
• 9. Honest: She was devastated when she realised he had been ___.
  
  imhonest
  unhonest
  dishonest
  mishonest
  
  
• 10. Polite: I thought she was very ___. She kept interrupting me.
  
  impolite
  unpolite
  dispolite
  mispolite