Negative Prefixes: un, in, im, il, ir, dis, non
IELTS with Mujahid · Beginner practice
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What is a negative prefix? A prefix is a small part added to the start of a word. A negative prefix gives the opposite meaning. The spelling of the base word does not change.
❌ unpossible · inlegal · unregular✅ impossible · illegal · irregular
im- before m or pil- before lir- before r
un-The most common prefix
in-Often with adjectives
im-Before m or p
il-Before l
ir-Before r
dis-Verbs, nouns and adjectives
non-Often joined with a hyphen
💡 IELTS tip: Negative prefixes help you avoid repeating “not” in Writing and Speaking. Instead of It is not possible, write It is impossible. Instead of not legal, write illegal. Be careful: not every word takes every prefix, so check a dictionary when you are unsure.
Ready? Tap a tab above and start with 1. Choose Prefix.
Activity 1: Choose the Prefix
Choose the prefix that makes the opposite of the word.
Activity 2: Gap Fill
Choose the correctly spelled negative word to complete each sentence.
Activity 3: Spot the Error
Two words are correct. One is spelled wrong. Tap the wrong word.
Activity 4: Fix the Mistake
Each pair has one correct sentence and one with a wrong negative word. Tap the correct sentence.
Activity 5: Type It
Type the opposite of the word. Use the clue to help you. Press Check or Enter.