ASVAB CampPrefixes flashcards
8 cards with the formulas, rules and traps from this lesson. Answer in your head, then flip to check.
Word part · 1/8
What do the prefixes in-, im-, il- and ir- mean, and when is each spelling used?
Not. In- shifts to match the next letter: im- before b, m or p (impatient), il- before l (illegible), ir- before r (irregular). Caution: in- can also mean in or into (inhale).
Word part · 2/8
Mis- vs. mal-: how do they differ?
Mis- means wrongly, a mistake in doing an action (misread, misaddress). Mal- means bad or faulty, a poor condition or quality (malfunction, malnourished).
Word part · 3/8
Inter- vs. intra-: what does each mean?
Inter- means between or among separate groups (interstate). Intra- means within one unit (intrastate, intravenous, intramural). Only one letter differs, so read slowly.
Word part · 4/8
What do post- and retro- mean, and how do their directions differ?
Post- means after (postwar, postpone: move to a later time). Retro- means backward or back in time (retrospective: looking back; retroactive: effective from an earlier date).
Word part · 5/8
Anti- vs. ante-: what does each mean?
Anti- means against or preventing (antifreeze, antitheft). Ante- means before (anteroom, a small room in front of a larger one).
Word part · 6/8
What do sub-, super- and sur- mean?
Sub-: under, below or less than (substandard, subsurface). Super-: above or beyond (superhuman). Sur-: over or on top of (surcharge, an extra fee; surplus, an amount above what is needed).
Word part · 7/8
What does semi- mean, and what degree does it signal?
Half or partly (semicircle, semiretired, semiconscious). It lowers the degree but does not reverse it, so choices meaning fully or not at all are wrong. Semiannual means every half year.
Common trap · 8/8
Why is 'worthless' wrong for INVALUABLE, and how do you avoid false prefix splits?
Invaluable means extremely useful, too valuable to measure. Confirm the leftover base is real (uncle, reason, pretty have no prefix) and trust context over a quick split.