Prefixes (voorzetsels) change the meaning of a word. We do the same in Dutch:
legaal > illegaal
gewild > ongewild
regelmatig > onregelmatig
alfabeet > analfabeet
Slide 5 - Tekstslide
Are there any rules?
Not really. You can only study prefixes by studying the words they belong to. Sometimes it is easy, because you already know a lot of them. Sometimes you have to look them up in a dictionary.
Slide 6 - Tekstslide
Are there any rules?
There are minor rules for spelling though.
ir- is always followed by an r
im- is always followed by an m or p
a- is always followed by a consonant (medeklinker)
This does not work the other way around.
Slide 7 - Tekstslide
Also remember
Not every word with a prefix is negative:
alike (the same)
discuss
universe
illuminate
important
involve
Slide 8 - Tekstslide
Which is the correct opposite of honest?
A
unhonest
B
ilhonest
C
dishonest
D
mishonest
Slide 9 - Quizvraag
Which is the correct opposite of reliable?
A
irreliable
B
unreliable
C
disreliable
D
inreliable
Slide 10 - Quizvraag
Which is the correct opposite of agree?
A
misagree
B
unagree
C
iragree
D
disagree
Slide 11 - Quizvraag
For now
Continue working on your weektask and/or your presentation.
If you want to see more examples of negative words with prefixes: