Ch 46 · Lesson 10Spanish · Chapter 46 · Lesson 10 · Grammar primer
pre- and the long tail: sub-, super-, ex-
Pre- means before (, ), and the prefixes to recognise rather than drill: sub-, super-, sobre-, inter-, anti-, contra-, ex- (expresidente, one word).
The short version
Ex- joins the word: expresidente
expresidente .
Why?Hide
Since the 2010 spelling rules, a prefix joins a one-word base with no space and no hyphen: expresidente, exnovio, antivirus. It is written apart only before a phrase of several words: . Pre- means before (, to foresee), sub- under (), contra- against (contradecir).
pre-: before
Pre- means before, in time or order, as in English.
| Base | With pre- | English |
|---|---|---|
| | to foresee |
| | to predict |
| prehistoria | prehistory |
A prefixed verb conjugates like its base. goes like , mostly like :
.- I don't foresee any problems..- Nobody predicted the crisis.
The long tail: anti-, sub-, super- and more
These turn up constantly. You do not need to drill them, only to recognise the piece and guess the rest.
Place and size
| Prefix | Meaning | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| sub- | under | | submarine |
| super- | above, extra | | supermarket |
| - | over, beyond | | to survive |
| inter- | between | | international |
| - | partly, between | entreabrir | to half-open |
| extra- | beyond | | extraordinary |
People, stance and degree
| Prefix | Meaning | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| anti- | against | antivirus | antivirus |
| - | counter | contradecir | to contradict |
| - | self | | self-esteem |
| co- | together | coautor | co-author |
| ex- | former | expresidente | former president |
| semi- | half | semifinal | semifinal |
| -, - | badly, well | | misunderstanding |
expresidente .- The former president lives in the country..- It was a misunderstanding.
Ex- joins a one-word base with no space and no hyphen: exnovio, ex-boyfriend. It is written apart only before a phrase of several words: , former prime minister.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| immortal | | in- stays in- before m |
| inecesario | innecesario | in- plus : two n's |
| illegal | | i- plus legal: one l |
| iresponsable | | - before r: double r |
| inposible | | im- before p and b |
| desfeliz | | a plain adjective takes in- |
| ex- | expresidente | ex- joins a one-word base |
Going further: Spanish prefixes at a glance and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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