Prefixes of negation

Several different prefixes can be used to give adjectives a negative (usually opposite) meaning. If something isn’t cleat, we say it’s unclear. But if something’s not correct, we say it’s incorrect. An employee who is not salaried is called a non-salaried employee.

How can we know when to use which prefix? There’s really no easy rule. You just have to learn the new forms one by one. Here’s a list that may be helpful:

un-	able acceptable advertised available desirable enthusiastic expected familiar		favourable important known married necessary occupied opened pleasant		profitable qualified satisfactory scheduled successful suitable usual willing
in-	complete convenient correct decisive		dependent direct effective efficient		expensive experienced frequent sufficient
ir-	reparable replaceable responsible	im-	personal possible practical	non-	salaried standard taxable

Although these negative prefixes are usually used with adjectives, they can give negative meanings to nouns as well. See how many of these nouns you can recognise.

impossibility inability independence

inefficiency inexperience irregularity

irresponsibility nonsmoker unfamiliarity

G R A M M A R

THE SUBJUNCTIVE

“… Peter suggested that … a much larger number of invoices be submitted for collection … (should be submitted for collection)”

T he secretary is usually on time. I insist that she be on time (should be on time)

Indicative Subjunctive

I you we they he she	am are is		…that	I you we they he she	be (should be)
I you we they he she	have work come do say bring, etc. has works comes does says brings, etc.		…that	I you we they he she	(should)	have work come do say bring, etc.