Prefixes: creating new meanings CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH VOCABULARY IN USE ADVANCED

CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH VOCABULARY IN USE ADVANCED

UNIT 86

Prefixes: creating new meanings

A	Common prefixes in- (and its variations im-, il-, ir-) can make a word negative, as in inappropriate, incapable, inaccuracy, inability and imperfect. mis- means wrongly or badly, e.g. misbehave and misuse. [use in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose] out- suggests being greater or better than something, e.g. outnumber [to be larger in number than another group] and outweigh. [be greater or more important than something else] re- has the meaning of ‘do again’ as in reconsider [think again about a decision or opinion], redevelop and rethink. [change what you think about something or what you plan to do] e- has the meaning of ‘electronic’ as in e-commerce [buying and selling goods online], e-reader [an electronic device for reading books] and e-cigarettes. [cigarettes that use water vapour rather than tobacco] eco- has the meaning of ‘good for the environment’, as in eco-friendly cleaning products, an eco-city [using energy efficiently and producing very little pollution] and an eco-warrior. [an informal word for someone who campaigns to protect the environment]
B	Preposition-based prefixes over- may indicate (a) an excess of something, (b) being above something, or (c) going across something. (a) EXCESS That film was overrated in my view. [people said it was better than it really was] It was a bad restaurant, with an overpriced menu. [too high prices] (b) ABOVE Several of our neighbour’s large trees overhang our garden. [their branches go over our garden] Our garden is overshadowed by the block of flats next door. [the flats cast a shadow over our garden] She always felt overshadowed by her older, more successful, sister. [metaphorical use, felt less important than] (c) ACROSS He overstepped the mark when he said that. [crossed a barrier into offensive/ unacceptable behaviour] Will you be staying overnight? [cross from one day to the next] under- may indicate (a) less than the desired amount, (b) something below another thing, or (c) some kind of negative behaviour. (a) LESS Don’t underestimate the time it will take. [think it will be less than it really is] The company is seriously understaffed. [lacking staff] (b) BELOW It’s quite wet underfoot. Did it rain last night? [on the ground, beneath your feet] The underlying question is a very difficult one. [the deeper question] (c) NEGATIVE I wish you would not undermine everything I do. [attack, weaken] He did it in a very underhand way. [secretly and possibly dishonestly] up- can suggest a change of some kind, often positive. The airline upgraded me to business class. [changed my ticket to a better class] There has been an upturn in the economy. [change for the better]
C	Less frequent prefixes con-/com- often suggests mixing things together (often in verbs of communication). converse commiserate condolences congeal contaminate pro- can often suggest pushing something forward or increasing it. promote proliferate procrastinate procreate e- can give the idea of something coming out of something. They were ejected from the restaurant for bad behaviour. [thrown out; formal] The machine emitted a loud noise and then stopped working. [gave out; formal]

EXERCISES

86.1	Choose a word from A opposite to complete each sentence. 1 They are planning to ____________ the area around the old bus station. 2 It is ____________ to use informal language in a formal essay. 3 The yes votes ____________ the no votes by two to one. 4 Ivan’s English is excellent but he still tends to ____________ idioms occasionally. 5 We all hope you will ____________ your decision to turn down our offer of a job. 6 I’m afraid I only have an ____________ understanding of the situation myself. 7 These pupils do not usually ____________ in class. 8 An ____________ to drive is a serious problem for anyone in this line of business. 9 Lance seems to be ____________ of understanding even the simplest instructions. 10 Paula lost marks in her science test because of the ____________ of her measurements. 11 More and more businesses use the internet in order to sell their products, so ____________ is becoming more and more important to the economy. 12 More farmers are now choosing to use ____________ fertilisers that don’t harm the environment or wildlife.
86.2	Decide which of the meanings of over- and under- are most obvious in the words in bold. Use the labels (a), (b) or (c), as in B opposite. Circle the correct letter. Use a dictionary if necessary. 1 I really think she overstated her case, and lost a lot of sympathy. a b c 2 The plane’s undercarriage failed to open and it crashed. a b c 3 A detailed list of awards is given overleaf. a b c 4 He has a very overbearing personality. a b c 5 The project was underfunded from the outset. a b c 6 During the cruise, a child fell overboard and drowned. a b c 7 Priya’s contribution to the project has sometimes been underrated. a b c 8 Phil always gets an underling to do the tasks he doesn’t enjoy. a b c
86.3	Rewrite these sentences using words from the opposite page. 1 There are more women than men on my course. Women outnumber men on my course. 2 The hotel gave me a luxury room instead of the ordinary one I’d booked. 3 Would you like to spend the night there or come back the same day? 4 The problem that lies under the surface is a very serious one. 5 For me, the advantages of air travel are more significant than the disadvantages. 6 I think this hotel charges too much. 7 It’s slippery walking just here. Be careful. 8 The company experienced a rise in popularity after it changed its name. 9 I felt that what she said was critical of my position and weakened it somewhat. 10 It would be a mistake to think Frances was less intelligent than she really is.
86.4	Match these definitions to a word in C opposite. Use a dictionary if necessary. 1 to keep delaying something that must be done _______________. 2 to make something poisonous or less pure _______________. 3 to throw out with force _______________. 4 suddenly to increase a lot in number _______________. 5 to sympathise with someone’s unhappiness_______________. 6 to change from a liquid or soft state to a solid or hard state _______________. 7 to produce young (formal) _______________. 8 to chat (formal) _______________. 9 to send out (a beam, noise, smell or gas) _______________. 10 to encourage people to buy or use something_______________.

ANSWER KEY

86.1 1 redevelop 2 inappropriate 3 outnumber / outnumbered 4 misuse 5 reconsider 6 imperfect 7 misbehave 8 inability 9 incapable 10 inaccuracy 11 e-commerce 12 eco-friendly 86.2 Suggested answers: 1 a 2 b 3 c 4 b 5 a 6 c 7 a 8 b 86.3 Suggested answers: 2 The hotel upgraded me to a luxury room instead of the ordinary one I’d booked. 3 Would you like to stay there overnight or come back the same day? 4 The underlying problem is a very serious one. 5 For me, the advantages of air travel outweigh the disadvantages. 6 I think this hotel is overpriced. 7 It’s slippery underfoot just here. Be careful. 8 The company experienced an upturn in popularity after it changed its name. 9 I felt that what she said undermined my position and weakened it somewhat. 10 It would be a mistake to underestimate how intelligent Frances is / to underestimate Frances’s intelligence. 86.4 1 procrastinate 2 contaminate 3 eject 4 proliferate 5 commiserate 6 congeal 7 procreate 8 converse 9 emit 10 promote