Opposites 2

A lot of adjectives can be made into their opposite form by the addition of a prefix (e.g.,
un,- in-, dis-, il-) to the beginning of the word. The most common prefix is un-. Adjectives
which end with -ful (thoughtful, useful, etc) are an exception: they are made into opposites
by replacing -ful with the suffix -less (thoughtless, useless, etc)
Note that some adjectives can be made into opposites by the addition of a prefix or by the
use of another word (e.g., correct = incorrect or wrong).

Decide which of the prefixes in the first group  can be used to make opposites of the adjectives in the second group.

dis- • il- • im- • in- • ir- • un

acceptable • accurate • adequate • advantaged • agreeable
attractive • avoidable • believable • certain • comfortable
competent • complete • conscious • contented • convincing
correct • curable • even • fair • fashionable • honest
inclined • legal • limited • literate • logical • married
mature • moral • mortal • obedient • patient • perfect • personal
possible • proper • pure • qualified • rational • regular • relevant
replaceable • resistible • resolute • responsible • satisfied • welcome

Complete these sentences by adding the most suitable adjective to the prefixes given.

1. Your behaviour was completely ir________! You're eighteen years old, not eight!
2. Life can be quite difficult for un________ mothers, or 'single parents' as they are usually called.
3. I'll help you in a minute. Don't be so im________!
4. She never learnt to read or write; she was completely il________.
5. I'm afraid you answer is in________. Try again.
6. He's a very dis________ man; bad-tempered, selfish, ,jealous and bigoted.
7. Flared trousers and a purple corduroy jacket? That's very un________, you know.
8. Using the 'broadband' system means that you get un________ Internet access at any time of the dayor night.
9. Dis________ children - those from poor families - have to work harder than others to succeed in life.
10. I did all the work and she got all the credit for it. That is so un________!
11. The people who run our national rail network are lazy and in_____; they're so bad at their job.
12. You paid £12 for a hamburger? That's un________! You must be joking!
13. After I was hit on the head, I must have been un________ for about ten minutes.
14. Your homework is in________. You've only answered half of the questions.
15. He's rather im________ for a sixteen-year-old. He behaves more like a child of ten.
16. You've broken my favourite cup. It's ir________! I'll never find another one.