WORD BUILDING - NEGATIVE ADJECTIVE PREFIXES

II. WORD BUILDING

a Some nouns are formed by adding a suffix ( hậu tố ) to a verb.
Example: -(at) ion, -ment, -ure, - ness. Other spelling changes may be necessary.
argue (v) => argument (n)
fail (v) => failure (n)
translate (v) => translation (n)

b Some nouns and verbs are identical.

thunder (v) => thunder (n)
fall (v) — fall (n)

III. NEGATIVE ADJECTIVE PREFIXES ( tiền tố )

Negative prefixes: un-, in-, im-, ir- il-and dis- The prefixes un-, in-, im-, ir-il- and dis- are negative. When
they come before an adjective, they make its meaning opposite.
Example: certain - uncertain
patient — impatient
honest - dishonest
responsible —irresponsible

1. Tiền tố UN-
Unbelievable (Adj.) Không thể tin được Unlucky (Adj.) Không may mắn
Uncountable (Adj.) Không đếm được Unrelated (Adj.) Không liên quan
Undamaged (Adj.) Không nguy hiểm Unreliable (Adj.) Không đáng tin cậy
Unforgettable (Adj.) Không thể nào quên Unsatisfied (Adj.) Không hài lòng
Unkind (Adj.) không có lòng tốt Unpopular (Adj.) Không phổ biến

2. Tiền tố IL – được sử dụng trước những từ bắt đầu bằng L

illegal (Adj.) Bất hợp pháp
illiterate (Adj.) Không biết đọc và viết
illegible (Adj.) không thể đọc được, khó đọc
EX: She has illegible handwriting so her grade is minus.
(Cô ấy có chữ viết tay khó đọc nên điểm cô ý bị trừ đi.)

3. Tiền tố IR : được sử dụng trước những từ bắt đầu bằng R

irregular (Adj.) không thường xuyên
irresponsible (Adj.) không có trách nhiệm
EX: He is so irresponsible when he didn’t finish his work on time.
(Anh ấy thật vô trách nhiệm khi không hoàn thành công việc của anh ấy đúng hạn.)

4. Tiền tố IM- : chỉ được dùng với các từ bắt đầu bằng b, p và m
imbalanced (Adj) Mất cân đối
impossible (Adj.) Không thể
immeasurable (Adj.) không thể đo lường
EX: it is impossible to tell the twins apart (Để nói ra sự khác biệt giữa 1 cặp sinh đôi là điều không thể.)
5. Tiền tố IN: được sử dụng trước các phụ âm còn lại
incomplete (Adj.) Chưa hoàn thành independent (Adj.) độc lập
intolerable (Adj.) không thể chấp nhận Insecure (Adj.) không an toàn
incorrect (Adj.) không chính xác invisible (Adj.) vô hình, không nhìn thấy
If you haven’t insecure foundations, your work won’t be effective
( Nếu bạn không có nền tảng vững chắc, công việc của bạn sẽ không hiệu quả)

6. Tiền tố DIS: có thể đi với một từ bắt đầu bằng nguyên âm hay phụ âm
Dishonorable (adj): đáng hổ thẹn Dissatisfied (a) không hài lòng
Dishonest (a) không trung thực Disobedient (a): không vâng lời
Disloyal (a) không trung thành Discoureous (a): bất lịch sự
EX: He is so disrespect when he shouted at his father angrily.

7. Tiền tố MIS : cũng là một tiền tố chúng ta hay gặp nhưng lại mang ý nghĩa hơi khác một chút
Misunderstand (V) hiểu sai
Misaddress (V) ghi sai địa chỉ
VD: He misaddressed the envelope, so I couldn’t receive his mail.
John misunderstood the lesson because he didn’t focus.

STT QUY TẮC VÍ DỤ

The book is so interesting that I can’t put it
1 Sau “tobe” (am/is/are/was/were) + Adj
down.
2 V + Adv ( trạng từ bổ nghĩa cho động từ) He runs quickly.
Sau động từ tri giác + Adj
3 The food tastes delicious.
V (tri giác): hear, smell, see, taste, feel...
4 Look/seem/get/become/find/make + adj She looks happy this morning.
The development of industry causes air
5 Sau mạo từ (a/an/the) + N
pollution.
Sau tính từ sỡ hữu (
6 He failed the exam because of hí laziness.
my/your/our/his/her/their/its ) + N
7 Sau sở hữu cách là danh từ Robert’s house is very nice.
Sau đại từ chỉ định (this/that/these/those) +
8 This machine has been out of order.
N
9 Sau some/any/many/much + N There are many people witing for the bus.
10 Adj + N ( tính từ bổ nghĩa cho danh từ ) She was bitten by a poisonous snake.
My parents are celebrating 30 years of marriage
11 Giới từ + N
next week.
12 Adv + Adj ( trạng từ bổ nghĩa cho tính từ) This food was perfectly delicious.
Đứng đầu câu, ngắn cách bằng dấu phẩy là Traditionally the positions of the women were
13
Adv in the kitchen.
The International Red Cross helps people in
Khi có “and/or/but” thì 2 vế câu cân bằng need without any discrimination based on
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với nhau. nationality, race, religion, class or political
opinions.
Exercise 1. Complete the text about illegal downloads. Use the adjectives in brackets with or without a
negative prefix.
In the USA, around 200 million 1 illegal (legal) music downloads take place every year, in spite of
laws to stop them. In the UK, the figure is about 100 million – the second highest in the world. The music
industry complains that these downloads are 2………………….. (fair) to artists because they stop them
earning money from their work. It is 3………………….. (possible) to know exactly how much money
artists and record companies are losing because many people who download illegally do not have any
money to spend. However, one thing is 4………………….. (certain): overall, the industry is earning a lot
less than it earned a few years ago. Record companies pay for adverts telling people that downloading music
without paying is as 5………………….. (acceptable) and 6………………….. (honest) as stealing from a
shop. If you’re a 7………………….. (loyal) fan, they suggest you buy a 8………………….. (legal) version
of song or album from iTunes or another website. But the adverts are 9………………….. (likely) to work
because people see the music industry as rich and powerful compared to them. Most do not see sharing
music online as 10………………….. (responsible). In fact, the number of illegal downloads is now going
down, but that’s not because of the warnings. For people who are 11………………….. (patient) to hear the
latest tracks, streaming services like Spotify now offer a simple and 12………………….. (safe) way to
enjoy them without the need for downloads at all.

2 unfair 3 impossible 4 certain 5 unacceptable

6 dishonest 7 loyal 8 legal 9 unlikely
10 irresponsible 11 impatient 12 safe

Exercise 2. Give the correct form of the words in brackets.

1. To be fair, we need to divide the tasks ________ (equal)
2. My mom and dad are checking the _________ for their gold wedding anniversary. (prepare)
3. Heavy lifting is an action which requires _________ strength, (physic)
4. It is good for them as individuals and good for all the _______ within the family. (relate)
5. ________ say that a lot of young people are not aware of these advantages. (Psychology)
6. Her ________ to the company is enormous. (contribute)
7. In order to maintain peace, we should not be ______ of each other. (criticize)
8. I want to see the very cute and lovely children at _______ schools. (nurse)
9. Mary and her husband always join hands in ________ their daughters. (educate)
10. A person will be considered _________ if he or she does not take good care of his or her
parents or grandparents. (grate)