Prefix un and dis | Lisa Osborne - Free Printable
Educational worksheet: Prefix un and dis | Lisa Osborne. Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.
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Step-by-step solution for: Prefix un and dis | Lisa Osborne
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Prefix un and dis | Lisa Osborne
Sure! Let’s solve this prefix worksheet step by step.
The task is to add either the prefix “un-” or “dis-” to each root word to form a correct, meaningful English word. Both prefixes generally mean “not” or “the opposite of,” but they are not always interchangeable — some words naturally take one prefix over the other based on common usage and etymology.
---
- “Un-” is more common with adjectives and verbs of Germanic origin.
- “Dis-” often appears with words of Latin origin and can also imply reversal or removal.
Let’s go through each word:
---
1. load → unload
✔ *Un-* is used here because “unload” means to remove a load. Common verb.
2. happy → unhappy
✔ *Un-* is standard for emotions: unhappy, unkind, unfair.
3. comfort → uncomfortable (but root is “comfort”) → uncomfortable? Wait — the root given is “comfort”, so we need to make a word from it.
→ uncomfortable is formed from “comfortable”, but if we must use “comfort” directly:
Actually, “discomfort” is the correct word — meaning lack of comfort.
✔ So: discomfort
4. continue → discontinue
✔ *Dis-* is used with “continue” — to stop continuing. Common verb.
5. friendly → unfriendly
✔ *Un-* is standard for social adjectives: unfriendly, unkind, unhelpful.
6. allow → disallow
✔ *Dis-* is used here — to not allow. Formal/official term.
7. fair → unfair
✔ *Un-* is standard: unfair, unbalanced, unjust.
8. obey → disobey
✔ *Dis-* is used with “obey” — to not obey.
9. respect → disrespect
✔ *Dis-* is used here — to show lack of respect.
10. tie → untie
✔ *Un-* is used — to undo a tie.
---
11. agree → disagree
✔ *Dis-* is used — to not agree.
12. trust → distrust
✔ *Dis-* is used — to not trust.
13. order → disorder
✔ *Dis-* is used — lack of order.
14. ripe → unripe
✔ *Un-* is used — not ripe yet.
15. comfortable → uncomfortable
✔ *Un-* is used — not comfortable.
16. honest → dishonest
✔ *Dis-* is used — not honest.
17. pleasant → unpleasant
✔ *Un-* is used — not pleasant.
18. zip → unzip
✔ *Un-* is used — to open a zipper.
19. known → unknown
✔ *Un-* is used — not known.
20. sure → unsure
✔ *Un-* is used — not sure.
---
1. unload
2. unhappy
3. discomfort
4. discontinue
5. unfriendly
6. disallow
7. unfair
8. disobey
9. disrespect
10. untie
11. disagree
12. distrust
13. disorder
14. unripe
15. uncomfortable
16. dishonest
17. unpleasant
18. unzip
19. unknown
20. unsure
---
When in doubt, try both prefixes and see which one sounds natural or is commonly used. You can also check a dictionary or think about how the word is used in everyday language. For example, we say “unhappy,” not “dishappy”; we say “disagree,” not “unagree.”
Let me know if you’d like a printable version or flashcards for these! 😊
The task is to add either the prefix “un-” or “dis-” to each root word to form a correct, meaningful English word. Both prefixes generally mean “not” or “the opposite of,” but they are not always interchangeable — some words naturally take one prefix over the other based on common usage and etymology.
---
General Rule of Thumb:
- “Un-” is more common with adjectives and verbs of Germanic origin.
- “Dis-” often appears with words of Latin origin and can also imply reversal or removal.
Let’s go through each word:
---
1. load → unload
✔ *Un-* is used here because “unload” means to remove a load. Common verb.
2. happy → unhappy
✔ *Un-* is standard for emotions: unhappy, unkind, unfair.
3. comfort → uncomfortable (but root is “comfort”) → uncomfortable? Wait — the root given is “comfort”, so we need to make a word from it.
→ uncomfortable is formed from “comfortable”, but if we must use “comfort” directly:
Actually, “discomfort” is the correct word — meaning lack of comfort.
✔ So: discomfort
4. continue → discontinue
✔ *Dis-* is used with “continue” — to stop continuing. Common verb.
5. friendly → unfriendly
✔ *Un-* is standard for social adjectives: unfriendly, unkind, unhelpful.
6. allow → disallow
✔ *Dis-* is used here — to not allow. Formal/official term.
7. fair → unfair
✔ *Un-* is standard: unfair, unbalanced, unjust.
8. obey → disobey
✔ *Dis-* is used with “obey” — to not obey.
9. respect → disrespect
✔ *Dis-* is used here — to show lack of respect.
10. tie → untie
✔ *Un-* is used — to undo a tie.
---
11. agree → disagree
✔ *Dis-* is used — to not agree.
12. trust → distrust
✔ *Dis-* is used — to not trust.
13. order → disorder
✔ *Dis-* is used — lack of order.
14. ripe → unripe
✔ *Un-* is used — not ripe yet.
15. comfortable → uncomfortable
✔ *Un-* is used — not comfortable.
16. honest → dishonest
✔ *Dis-* is used — not honest.
17. pleasant → unpleasant
✔ *Un-* is used — not pleasant.
18. zip → unzip
✔ *Un-* is used — to open a zipper.
19. known → unknown
✔ *Un-* is used — not known.
20. sure → unsure
✔ *Un-* is used — not sure.
---
✔ Final Answers:
1. unload
2. unhappy
3. discomfort
4. discontinue
5. unfriendly
6. disallow
7. unfair
8. disobey
9. disrespect
10. untie
11. disagree
12. distrust
13. disorder
14. unripe
15. uncomfortable
16. dishonest
17. unpleasant
18. unzip
19. unknown
20. unsure
---
💡 Tip for Students:
When in doubt, try both prefixes and see which one sounds natural or is commonly used. You can also check a dictionary or think about how the word is used in everyday language. For example, we say “unhappy,” not “dishappy”; we say “disagree,” not “unagree.”
Let me know if you’d like a printable version or flashcards for these! 😊
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of prefix dis worksheet.
