Word formation (Prefixes-Suffixes) worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve the Word Formation worksheet step by step. The task involves two parts:

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Part 1: Form words using prefixes and/or suffixes

We need to fill in the blanks by changing the given base words with appropriate prefixes or suffixes.

#### 1. ________ is not enough for achieving one’s goals. (enthusiastic)
→ We need a noun form of "enthusiastic".
Add -ism → Enthusiasm
✔ Enthusiasm

#### 2. Sugar is ________ to your teeth as it causes decay. (harm)
→ We need an adjective meaning "causing harm" → use -ful
→ Harmful
✔ Harmful

#### 3. Youth are active and ________. (energy)
→ We need an adjective from "energy" → add -ic
→ Energetic
✔ Energetic

#### 4. Capital ________ is abolished in all European countries. (punish)
→ We need a noun form of "punish" → add -ment
→ Punishment
✔ Punishment

#### 5. The ________ is trying to find a solution to ________. (govern, employ)
→ First blank: subject doing governing → Government
→ Second blank: problem related to employment → Unemployment
✔ Government, Unemployment

#### 6. This man is doing something ________. Should we call the police? (legal)
→ Opposite of legal → Illegal
✔ Illegal

#### 7. Because of a ________, Sarah doesn’t talk to me now. (understand)
→ Need a noun meaning "lack of understanding" → Misunderstanding
✔ Misunderstanding

#### 8. Who is the ________ of this amazing house? (own)
→ Need a noun → Owner
✔ Owner

#### 9. The black mamba is the most ________ snake in the world. (poison)
→ Need an adjective → Poisonous
✔ Poisonous

#### 10. It was so ________ of my neighbours to have an after midnight party. (thought)
→ Need an adjective meaning "not thoughtful" → Thoughtless
✔ Thoughtless

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✔ Part 1 Answers:

1. Enthusiasm
2. Harmful
3. Energetic
4. Punishment
5. Government, Unemployment
6. Illegal
7. Misunderstanding
8. Owner
9. Poisonous
10. Thoughtless

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Part 2: Add prefixes to form opposites

We are given a list of words and must choose the correct prefix (in-, un-, dis-, im-, il-, ir-) to make the opposite meaning.

Here’s the list:

| Word | Prefix | Opposite |
|------|--------|---------|
| literate | il- | Illiterate |
| relevant | ir- | Irrelevant |
| polite | im- | Impolite |
| legal | il- | Illegal |
| direct | in- | Indirect |
| advantage | dis- | Disadvantage |
| logical | il- | Illogical |
| loyal | dis- | Disloyal |
| numerable | in- | Innumerable |
| correct | in- | Incorrect |
| moral | im- | Immoral |
| active | in- | Inactive |
| honest | dis- | Dishonest |
| modest | im- | Immodest |
| regular | ir- | Irregular |
| safe | in- | Unsafe |
| real | ir- | Irreal (rare; better: Unreal – but ir- is listed, so use Irreal)
Wait — actually, "unreal" is more common than "irreal", but since "ir-" is available, let’s check.

But note: "irreal" is archaic. More commonly, "unreal" is used. However, since "ir-" is provided, perhaps we should use it.

But let's follow standard usage and available prefixes.

Actually, "un-" is more common for "real" → Unreal
But "ir-" is used in "irregular", "illegal", etc.

So for real → Unreal (with un-)
Similarly, safe → Unsafe (un-)
believe → Unbelievable (un-)
lucky → Unlucky (un-)
legible → Illegible (il-)
appear → Disappear (dis-)
rational → Irrational (ir-)

Let’s go row by row.

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#### Fill in the blanks:

1. ______literate → Illiterate → il-
2. ______relevant → Irrelevant → ir-
3. ______polite → Impolite → im-
4. ______legal → Illegal → il-
5. ______direct → Indirect → in-
6. ______advantage → Disadvantage → dis-
7. ______logical → Illogical → il-
8. ______loyal → Disloyal → dis-
9. ______numerable → Innumerable → in-
10. ______correct → Incorrect → in-
11. ______moral → Immoral → im-
12. ______active → Inactive → in-
13. ______honest → Dishonest → dis-
14. ______modest → Immodest → im-
15. ______regular → Irregular → ir-
16. ______safe → Unsafe → un-
17. ______real → Unreal → un- (Note: "irreal" is rare; "unreal" is standard)
18. ______perfect → Imperfect → im-
19. ______responsible → Irresponsible → ir-
20. ______believable → Unbelievable → un-
21. ______lucky → Unlucky → un-
22. ______legible → Illegible → il-
23. ______appear → Disappear → dis-
24. ______rational → Irrational → ir-

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✔ Final Answers for Part 2:

| Word | Prefix | Full Word |
|------|--------|----------|
| literate | il | Illiterate |
| relevant | ir | Irrelevant |
| polite | im | Impolite |
| legal | il | Illegal |
| direct | in | Indirect |
| advantage | dis | Disadvantage |
| logical | il | Illogical |
| loyal | dis | Disloyal |
| numerable | in | Innumerable |
| correct | in | Incorrect |
| moral | im | Immoral |
| active | in | Inactive |
| honest | dis | Dishonest |
| modest | im | Immodest |
| regular | ir | Irregular |
| safe | un | Unsafe |
| real | un | Unreal |
| perfect | im | Imperfect |
| responsible | ir | Irresponsible |
| believable | un | Unbelievable |
| lucky | un | Unlucky |
| legible | il | Illegible |
| appear | dis | Disappear |
| rational | ir | Irrational |

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✔ Summary of All Answers

#### Part 1:
1. Enthusiasm
2. Harmful
3. Energetic
4. Punishment
5. Government, Unemployment
6. Illegal
7. Misunderstanding
8. Owner
9. Poisonous
10. Thoughtless

#### Part 2:
- illiterate
- irrelevant
- impolite
- illegal
- indirect
- disadvantage
- illogical
- disloyal
- innumerable
- incorrect
- immoral
- inactive
- dishonest
- immodest
- irregular
- unsafe
- unreal
- imperfect
- irresponsible
- unbelievable
- unlucky
- illegible
- disappear
- irrational

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This completes the worksheet! Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation of any specific word formation rule.