Prefixes: Space, Direction, and Time

Review!

A prefix is a word part that appears at the beginning of a base word or root to form a new word. A space or direction prefix shows physical position or movement. A time prefix shows a chronological relationship.

Prefixes are small word units that are added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. In the English language, prefixes are commonly used to indicate space, direction, and time. In this blog post, we'll explore some common prefixes that are used in English to indicate these concepts and how they can help us communicate more precisely.

Space

In English, prefixes are often used to indicate spatial relationships. Here are some common prefixes that are used in English to indicate space:

"Sub-" (e.g. "submarine," "subzero") - below or under
"Super-" (e.g. "superman," "supermarket") - above or over
"Intra-" (e.g. "intracity," "intranet") - within
"Extra-" (e.g. "extraordinary," "extramarital") - outside or beyond
"Inter-" (e.g. "international," "interstate") - between or among

For example, "submarine" refers to a vessel that travels under the sea, while "superman" refers to a person with extraordinary abilities that are above those of a normal human. "Intracity" refers to something that happens within a city, while "extramarital" refers to something that happens outside of marriage. "International" refers to something that happens between or among nations, while "interstate" refers to something that happens between or among states.

Direction

In English, prefixes are also used to indicate direction. Here are some common prefixes that are used in English to indicate direction:

"Up-" (e.g. "upward," "upgrade") - toward a higher position or level
"Down-" (e.g. "downward," "download") - toward a lower position or level
"Out-" (e.g. "outward," "outgrow") - away from the center or the inside
"In-" (e.g. "inward," "input") - toward the center or the inside

For example, "upward" refers to movement toward a higher position or level, while "downward" refers to movement toward a lower position or level. "Outward" refers to movement away from the center or the inside, while "inward" refers to movement toward the center or the inside.

Time

In English, prefixes are also used to indicate time. Here are some common prefixes that are used in English to indicate time:

"Pre-" (e.g. "prewar," "pregnancy") - before
"Post-" (e.g. "postwar," "postgraduate") - after
"Pro-" (e.g. "proactive," "prologue") - before or in favor of
"Anti-" (e.g. "antipathy," "antitrust") - against or opposed to
"Re-" (e.g. "refresh," "rebuild") - again or back

For example, "prewar" refers to something that happened before a war, while "postwar" refers to something that happened after a war. "Proactive" refers to taking action before something happens, while "antitrust" refers to actions that are against monopolies or trusts. "Refresh" refers to something that is done again, while "rebuild" refers to something that is built again.