Prefixes using pre-, re-, and sub- – ESL Lesson, FAQs, and Quiz

ESL Lesson Using Prefixes: Pre-, Re-, Sub-

Prefixes are essential building blocks in English that alter the meaning of the words to which they are attached. In this section, we will explore three common prefixes: pre-, re-, and sub-. The prefix pre- suggests “before” or “prior to,” as in preview (view before) or predict (say before). The prefix re- indicates “again” or “back,” such as in rewrite (write again) or return (turn back). Lastly, sub- denotes “under” or “below,” used in words like submarine (under the sea) or subordinate (ranked below). Understanding these prefixes can greatly expand vocabulary and enhance comprehension and usage of English.

Pre-

Look at the following words:

preschool– a special school that young children attend before elementary school

prepare– to get ready for an event before it happens

predate– (verb) something that happens before another thing happens These dinosaur bones predate humans.

prevent– to stop something before it happens

predict– to guess something before it happens

Practice Quiz using pre-

  1. What do they all have in common (the same)?       

2. What does the prefix pre- mean?    

Answer key is provided for all Quiz questions below.

Re-

Now look at these words:

review– look again

redo– do again

reinvent– invent again

revisit– visit again

Practice Quiz using re-

3. What do these words have in common?

4. What does the prefix re- mean?

Practice Quiz using sub-

Sub-

And finally, look at these words:

submarine– an boat that floats under the water

subway– a train that runs under the ground

subzero– below freezing temperature

substitute– a replacement (originally- something that works instead of or under something else) Our teacher didn’t come to school today so we had a substitute teacher.

5. What do these words have in common?

6. What does the prefix sub- mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about Prefixes: Pre-, Re-, Sub-

What does the prefix ‘pre-‘ imply in a word?

The prefix pre- implies a notion of “before” or “prior to” the action of the root word. For example, precaution means taking caution before something happens.

Can the prefix ‘re-‘ change the tense of a word?

Yes, the prefix re- often changes the tense of a verb to indicate the action is done again or repeated. For instance, redo means to do something again, typically after the first attempt was unsatisfactory.

Are there any rules for adding prefixes like ‘sub-‘ to a root word?

Generally, sub- can be directly added to a noun without changing the spelling of the root word, such as in subtopic. However, spelling adjustments occur if the root word starts with certain letters, such as sub- becoming suc- before ‘c’ as in succumb.

What is a common mistake learners make with the prefix ‘re-‘?

A common mistake is overusing re- when the base verb already implies repetition, or using it with verbs where it changes the meaning unexpectedly, such as reclaim which does not simply mean to claim again.

How does ‘sub-‘ interact with adjectives?

With adjectives, sub- often implies a quality is lesser or below normal, such as subpar, meaning below average standard or quality.

Answer Key(s):

  1. They all use pre- 
  2. before 
  3. They all use re-
  4. again
  5. They all use sub- 
  6. under