When it means groups of people younger than the given age, e. g. under-sevens
Note: words formed with UNDER- are sometimes written with a hyphen and sometimes as one word.
| underarm | underblanket | undercarriage |
| underclothes | underdeveloped | under-eighteens |
| under-equipped | underestimate | under-exercised |
| under-financed | under-fives | underfloor |
| underfoot | undergraduate | underground |
| undergrown | undergrowth | under-librarian |
| underline | under-manned | undernourished |
| underpass | underpriced | underprepared |
| undersea | undersecretary | under-seventies |
| undersigned | undersize | under-sail |
| understaffed | understatement | undersubscribed |
| undersurface | under-trained | under-twenty-twos |
| undervalue | underwater | underweight |
8 Look at these examples and add more of your own, using the root words with one of the prefixes in this list. It is often possible to use the same root more than once. You should be able to add 40 words:
BI – binary, … DECA – decalitre, decathlon, …
DECI – decilitre, … DEMI – demi-world, …
DI – diphthong, … MILLI – millilitre, …
MONO – monochrome, … MULTI – multi-flavoured, …
OMNI – omnivorous, … POLY – polyglot, …
SEMI – semi-tone, … TRI – trilogy, …
UNI – unique, …
| -bel | -centennial | -circle | -cycle | -degree |
| -detached | -devil | -ennial | -gamy | -god |
| -gon | -lateral | -lingual | -metre | -monthly |
| -pede | -potent | -present | -second | -sex |
| -theism | -xide |
9 Sometimes to the same root word it is possible to add different prefixes. Fill in the following sentences with the right words. Be certain you understand the difference between the given words:
a) deformities deformation malformation
1 When I saw her after that accident I was terrified by the … of her face. 2 Her child was born with terrible … of his legs and hands. 3 Although the baby was born with a severe … of the lungs, the doctors said she would live.
b) disinformation misinformation
1 I’m positive that all the misunderstanding was caused by … . 2 The … spread abroad was to confuse the enemy as to the real plans of the government.
c) emigration immigration
1 The largest … of Poles to the United States took place in the nineteenth century. 2 … rules forbid the bringing of any fruit or food into this country.
d) inflammable non-flammable/non-inflammable
1 The firemen’s uniforms are made of … material. 2 You can’t smoke in here because those barrels contain a highly … liquid.
e) amoral immoral
1 He is accused of living off … earning, having forced five young girls to prostitute themselves. 2 His hero is an … person guided not by any sense of morality but a sheer instinct of survival.
10 Sometimes from the same verb it is possible to form different adjectives. Fill the following sentences with the right adjectives. Be certain you understand the difference between the given adjectives:
a) defensible defensive
1 Our team didn’t lose because they are known for … football. 2 Your behaviour is not really … , although I can understand the reason for same of your actions.
b) definite definitive
1 I thought that my letter was … enough to understand it correctly. 2 It is our … proposal and you can take it or leave it.
c) expandable expansive
1 The swimming suit is made with … material. 2 He has written an … review of the play to prove how bad it was.
d) extendable extended extensive
1 I’m dreaming about an … holiday. 2 I’m afraid that your loan is not … and you have to pay it on time. 3 How … is your knowledge of art history?
e) fallacious fallible
1 I can’t accept his arguments because they are supported by … data. 2 Let’s buy this measuring equipment because it seems les … than the one we have now.
f) favourable favourite
1 We are having … reviews of our play. 2 Who’s your … pop-singer?
g) gradable gradual ungradable
1 “Tall” is a … adjective, because you can add -er and -est, but “main” is … . 2 Visiting him every week, I could observe the … improvement in his health condition.
h) imaginable imaginary imaginative
1 I voted for him because I liked the … approach to the problems of our economy. 2 You can find in this bookshop every … book printed recently. 3 Her fears are completely … having no basis in reality and existing only in her mind.
i) judgmental judicial
1 He’s so … , always expressing his opinion about others. 2 I think that our … system works better now than even a few years ago.
j) knowable known
1 Since the down of mankind, the wise men have tried to determine what is … and what is not. 2 He is so popular his music is … to any teenager.
k) pleasant pleased pleasing pleasurable
1 What a … picture to see you happy together. 2 It was a really … dinner. The food, the company – all perfect. 3 What a … evening! I’m glad we went for a walk. 4 I’m … to hear that you have accepted my plans.
l) practicable practical
1 For this job … experience is more important than theoretical knowledge. 2 I’m afraid it will not be … to have your car repaired by Monday.
m) preferable preferential
1 It would be … if we could start our dinner at a later hour. 2 Because I had worked here for over twenty years I get … prices an any item I want to buy.
n) reliable reliant
1 Trust him, he’s a very … person. 2 Being bed-ridden he’s completely … on his family.
o) respectable respectful respective
1 Japanese are very … of the old. 2 He’s a scion of the most … family in our city. 3 Mary came from London and John from Bristol, and after the party they returned to their … towns.
11 Sometimes form the same root word it is possible to form different adjectives. Fill in the following sentences with the right adjectives:
a) adopted adoptive
I am an … child, but my … parents are the best in the world.
b) adventitious adventurous
The … tourist would have frozen lost in the woods were it is not for the … arrival of the hunters.
c) alternate alternative
1 If you reject our ideas, propose … solutions. 2 This course is offered in … years.
d) Arab Arabian Arabic
1 His grandfather was a famous … warrior. 2 At school we use mostly … numerals. 3 I love the smell of those strong … perfumes.
e) authoritarian authoritative
1 This is one of the most … encyclopaedias I’ve ever seen. 2 My boss is very … and demands absolute obedience.
f) childish childlike
1 you wouldn’t like this movie, it is too … . 2 Although she is over 30 she still has a … face.
g) civic civil
1 Last week a new … centre was open in our town. 2 He was one of the leaders of the … rights movement.
h) classic classical
1 I like modern dance but I dislike … ballet. 2 I’ve just re-read all the … novels of Jane Austin.
i) comic comical
1 I have recently seen an excellent … film. 3 His gestures are so … that I can’t stop myself from laughing.
j) conscientious conscious
1 My grandma is quite … of her age but she still tries to be active and helpful. 2 My teacher is a very … person, doing everything properly and with care.
k) contemptible contemptuous
1 He was very … of my success. 2 I find it … that some of the well-off do not try to help the very poor.
l) continual continuous
1 After a few weeks of drought we got a few days of ... rain. 2 My boss’s … demands and criticism made it difficult to concentrate on the work.
m) corporal corporeal
1 Angels do not have … existence. 2 … publishment was abolished in British schools only in the 960s.
n) credible creditable credulous
1 She is a … person, ready to believe anything you tell her. 2 The witness presented the jury with quite a … account of what had happened on the night of the murder. 3 The … achievement of Prof. Wise brings credit and honour to himself and makes our Institution famous.
o) deceitful deceptive
1 I know that her fragile appearance was … . 2 The King was surrounded by ungrateful, cunning, … traitors.