Antonyms

What is a negative prefix?

It’s a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to form the word’s opposite.

Examples: un friendly im patient in complete dis honest ir responsible il literate

In pairs, think of other words formed with negative prefixes.

UN UNFORGETTABLE UNACCEPTABLE IM IN IR DIS IL IMPOLITE INSECURE IRREPLACEABLE DISLOYAL ILLEGIBLE IMMORTAL INDECISIVE IRREGULAR DISPLEASED ILLEGAL

Now, open your book to page 53 and try to come up with the antonyms for the following words.

1.appropriate

2.courteous

3.excusable

4.imaginable

5.honest

6.pleasant

7.rational

8.mature

inapproriate discourteous inexcusable unimaginable dishonest unpleasant irrational immature

Grouping by prefix acceptable considerate respectful

Dis

responsible proper honest imaginable mature appropriate polite pleasant

Im In Ir

excusable courteous rational

Un

Language note: Many words starting with m- or p- form the negative with the prefix im. Many words starting with r- form their negative with the prefix ir-. For example, immobile, impossible, irregular, immortal, impatient, irrepleceable. There are exceptions; for example, displeased, disrespectful. Test your memory! Student book - 53

Write your own examples of inappropriate behavior.

Write your own examples of inappropriate behavior. Use the adjectives from Exercises D and E.

Example: It’s inconsiderate to play loud music on a bus.

Suggestions:

1. It’s disrespectful to talk back to your parents.

2. It’s impolite to smoke in enclosed spaces.

3. It’s dishonest to cheat on a test.

4. It’s inconsiderate to use a cell phone in a restaurant.

5. It’s unacceptable to litter on the street.

6. It’s discourteous to answer your cell phone in class.