Negative statements are the opposite of affirmative statements. In English, one way to make negative statements is by adding negative prefixes to nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Here are some English negative prefixes: a–, dis–, il–, im–, in-, ir–, non–, un–.
For example, the prefix
un- can be attached to the adjective
happy to create the negative adjective
unhappy. Or you can use the
negative adverb not . Note that there is no difference in meaning between these two forms.
| affirmative | | negative |
| negative prefix | | not |
| Tom is happy. | Tom is unhappy. | Tom is not happy. |
Words that take
a– as a negative prefix always begin with a
consonant .
| affirmative | | negative |
| political | apolitical |
| sexual | asexual |
| theist | atheist |
Words that take
dis– as a negative prefix may begin with a
vowel or a consonant.
| affirmative | | negative |
| agree | disagree |
| comfort | discomfort |
| mount | dismount |
| orient | disorient |
Words that take il– as a negative prefix always begin with the letter l.
| affirmative | | negative |
| legal | illegal |
| legible | illegible |
| literate | illiterate |
| logical | illogical |
Words that take im– as a negative prefix always begin with the letter m or p.
| affirmative | | negative |
| mobile | immobile |
| moral | immoral |
| perfect | imperfect |
| possible | impossible |
Words that take in– as a negative prefix can begin with a vowel (except i or u) or a consonant.
| affirmative | | negative |
| accurate | inaccurate |
| eligible | ineligible |
| organic | inorganic |
| decent | indecent |
| sane | insane |
Note: There are many words that begin with in– that are not words with a negative prefix. For example:
| word | | does not mean |
| incline | not cline |
| indulge | not dulge |
| insist | not sist |
| invoke | not voke |
Words that take ir– as a negative prefix always begin with the letter r.
| affirmative | | negative |
| rational | irrational |
| reconcilable | irreconcilable |
| regular | irregular |
| resistible | irresistible |
Words that take non– as a negative prefix may begin with a vowel or a consonant.
| affirmative | | negative |
| conformist | nonconformist |
| essential | nonessential |
| fiction | nonfiction |
| sense | nonsense |
Words that take un– as a negative prefix may begin with a vowel or consonant.
| affirmative | | negative |
| able | unable |
| interesting | uninteresting |
| usual | unusual |
| comfortable | uncomfortable |
| helpful | unhelpful |
| prepared | unprepared |
Remember, not all words that appear to have a negative prefix are negative.
| word | | does not mean |
| alike | not like |
| discuss | not cuss |
| universe | not iverse |
| illuminate | not luminate |
| important | not portant |
| involve | not volve |
| irrigate | not rigate |
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