Word Building | The Prefixes im-, dis-, un-

When we add the prefixes un-, im- and dis- to adjectives, verbs or nouns, we get their opposites.

Study the examples given below:

Polite x impolite
Kind x unkind
Able x unable
Like x dislike
Pleasure x displeasure
Believe x disbelieve
Shaved x unshaved
Perfect x imperfect
Satisfy x dissatisfy
Pleasant x unpleasant
Respect x disrespect
Pure x impure
Expected x unexpected
Agree x disagree
Obedient x disobedient
Ability x disability
Advantage x disadvantage
Allow x disallow
Approve x disapprove
Grace x disgrace
Honest x dishonest
Honour x dishonour
Infect x disinfect
Integrate x disintegrate
Mature x immature
Modest x immodest
Mortal x immortal
Partial x impartial
Perfect x imperfect
Permanent x impermanent
Pure x impure
Proper x improper

Fill in the blanks by adding un-, im- or dis- to the words given in the box.

(mortal, grace, appeared, partial, integrate, obedient, mature, comforted, guised, agree, patient)

1. He is a ……………… to the legal profession.

2. He was ……………. as a priest.

3. The explosion caused the structure to ………………..

4. The …………….. student was expelled from the class.

5. He angered everyone with his …………….. behaviour.

6. No man is ……………….

7. A judge must be ……………..

8. The people are ……………. for change.

9. My father and I …………… completely on politics.

10. The sun ……………. behind the clouds.

11. The extreme cold ……………… the mountain climbers.

Answers

1. He is a disgrace to the legal profession.

2. He was disguised as a priest.

3. The explosion caused the structure to disintegrate.

4. The disobedient student was expelled from the class.

5. He angered everyone with his immature behaviour.

6. No man is immortal.

7. A judge must be impartial.

8. The people are impatient for change.

9. My father and I disagree completely on politics.

10. The sun disappeared behind the clouds.

11. The extreme cold discomforted the mountain climbers.