Prefixes Practice Test — Basic

45 multiple-choice questions with answers and explanations · Free

🌱 Basic level

Basics of prefixes. 45 questions on negative prefixes (un-, dis-, in-/im-/il-/ir-), re-, and pre- in everyday vocabulary.

What this test covers

  • Negative Prefixes: un-, dis-, in-/im-/il-/ir-
  • Repetition and Reversal: re-
  • Time and Position: pre- and mis-
Start with question 1 ↓

Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.

All 45 questions with answers

Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.

0 / 45 answered ✓ 0 ✗ 0

  1. Q1The instructions for this game are ___clear, so nobody knows what to do.

    Answer: B. unclear

    We use the prefix 'un-' to make the opposite of 'clear.' If you cannot understand something, it is 'unclear.' We don't use 'inclear' or 'disclear' in English.

  2. Q2He is very ___patient when waiting for the bus, often complaining about the time.

    Answer: B. impatient

    To make the opposite of a word starting with 'p,' we usually use 'im-.' That is why we say 'impatient.' Other options like 'unpatient' are not correct.

  3. Q3It is ___legal to drive a car without a valid license.

    Answer: C. illegal

    When a word starts with the letter 'l,' we often use the prefix 'il-' to mean 'not.' So, something that is against the law is 'illegal.' Words like 'unlegal' do not exist.

  4. Q4She felt ___comfortable in the new chair because it was too hard.

    Answer: A. uncomfortable

    The common prefix to show the opposite of 'comfortable' is 'un-.' If a chair is hard and hurts your back, you are 'uncomfortable.'

  5. Q5I ___agree with your opinion on the movie; I thought it was boring.

    Answer: C. disagree

    To show the opposite of the verb 'agree,' we use the prefix 'dis-.' So, if you have a different opinion, you 'disagree.' 'Unagree' is not a real word.

  6. Q6Choose the correctly formed sentence.

    Answer: D. It is impossible to finish.

    We use 'im-' before words starting with 'p' to make them negative. 'Impossible' means it cannot happen. Options like 'unpossible' or 'inpossible' are incorrect.

  7. Q7Which word should replace the underlined word? The unhonest man lied to me about his experience.

    Answer: B. dishonest

    The correct prefix for 'honest' is 'dis-.' A person who lies is 'dishonest.' Using 'unhonest' or 'inhonest' is a common mistake, but they are not right in English.

  8. Q8My boss was very ___satisfied with my work today because of the errors.

    Answer: B. dissatisfied

    We use the prefix 'dis-' with 'satisfied' to show that someone is not happy with the results. So, the boss was 'dissatisfied.'

  9. Q9The child's handwriting was ___legible, so the teacher couldn't read it.

    Answer: A. illegible

    For words starting with 'l,' we use 'il-' to mean 'not.' If you cannot read someone's writing because it is messy, it is 'illegible.'

  10. Q10Choose the correctly formed sentence.

    Answer: A. This is an irregular verb.

    For words starting with 'r,' we use the prefix 'ir-' to mean 'not.' An 'irregular' verb does not follow the normal rules. Options like 'unregular' are incorrect.

  11. Q11Which word should replace the underlined word? The unresponsible boy lost his keys again.

    Answer: A. irresponsible

    Since 'responsible' starts with 'r,' we use the prefix 'ir-' to make it negative. An 'irresponsible' person does not take enough care with their duties.

  12. Q12The front door was ___locked when I arrived home.

    Answer: C. unlocked

    We use 'un-' to show the opposite state or action. If a door is not locked, it is 'unlocked.' 'Dislocked' is not a word in English.

  13. Q13The bedroom was ___tidy after the party, so we had to clean it.

    Answer: D. untidy

    The prefix 'un-' makes the opposite of 'tidy.' If a room is messy and needs cleaning, it is 'untidy.' We do not use 'distidy.'

  14. Q14She is very ___dependent and likes to do everything by herself.

    Answer: B. independent

    We use the prefix 'in-' to show the opposite of 'dependent.' An 'independent' person likes to do things by themselves without help.

  15. Q15Which word should replace the underlined word? Your answer is uncorrect for this math problem.

    Answer: D. incorrect

    The correct prefix for 'correct' is 'in-.' If an answer is wrong, it is 'incorrect.' 'Uncorrect' is not the right word.

  16. Q16Please ___write the email because it has many spelling mistakes.

    Answer: B. rewrite

    The prefix 're-' means 'again.' If there are many mistakes, you need to 'rewrite' the email (write it again). 'Unwrite' is not used here.

  17. Q17I need to ___arrange the furniture because the room feels too small.

    Answer: B. rearrange

    Use the prefix 're-' to mean 'again.' To 'rearrange' means to move things into a new or better order. 'Disarrange' means to make things messy.

  18. Q18You should ___cycle these plastic bottles to help the environment.

    Answer: A. recycle

    The prefix 're-' means 'again.' To 'recycle' means to process old materials so they can be used again. 'Uncycle' and 'discycle' are not real words.

  19. Q19Choose the correctly formed sentence.

    Answer: C. Please redo the homework.

    We use 're-' to mean 'do again.' If you must do your homework a second time, you 'redo' it. 'Undo' means to reverse an action (like unbuttoning a coat).

  20. Q20I need to ___ the car because the color is fading.

    Answer: D. repaint

    The prefix 're-' means 'again.' If the old paint is fading, you need to 'repaint' the car (paint it a second time). 'Unpaint' would mean to remove paint.

  21. Q21The actor will ___appear on stage in the final scene.

    Answer: B. reappear

    The prefix 're-' means 'again.' If an actor comes onto the stage for a second time, they 'reappear.' 'Unappear' is not a standard English word.

  22. Q22We should ___consider our decision before we sign the contract.

    Answer: C. reconsider

    To 'reconsider' means to think about a decision again, often to see if you want to change your mind. The prefix 're-' always adds the meaning of 'again.'

  23. Q23Choose the correctly formed sentence.

    Answer: C. We need to rebuild the wall.

    To 'rebuild' means to build something again after it was damaged. 'Unbuild' and 'inbuild' are not standard words for this situation.

  24. Q24The ___ of the tickets is not necessary.

    Answer: B. rebooking

    The prefix 're-' means 'again.' 'Rebooking' means booking your tickets for a second time because plans changed. 'Unbooking' is not a word.

  25. Q25The teacher asked us to ___view the lesson again before the test.

    Answer: B. review

    The word 'again' signals that the students have already covered this lesson and need to study it a second time. To 'review' means to look at or study something again to remember it. 'Preview' means to look at something before it has been introduced, which does not fit since the lesson was already taught.

  26. Q26I ___charged my phone before the trip so it wouldn't die.

    Answer: C. recharged

    When a battery is low, you 'recharge' it (fill it with power again). The prefix 're-' means 'again.' 'Discharged' means the battery lost its power.

  27. Q27Choose the correctly formed sentence.

    Answer: C. Please return the book.

    The word 'return' means to give something back to its owner or place. 'Unturn' and 'preturn' are not real English words.

  28. Q28The boy was very ___ when he lost his favorite toy.

    Answer: A. unhappy

    We use the prefix 'un-' to mean 'not.' So 'unhappy' means sad. Losing a favorite toy makes someone feel sad, so 'unhappy' is the correct word.

  29. Q29She had to ___connect the printer to the computer after the power cut.

    Answer: D. reconnect

    To 'reconnect' means to join two things together again. Since the power cut broke the connection, she had to do it again.

  30. Q30Please ___place the items on the shelf in the correct order.

    Answer: C. replace

    To 'replace' means to put something back in its correct place or to put something new where the old one was. 'Unplace' is not a word.

  31. Q31He was ___qualified for the job.

    Answer: C. unqualified

    If someone does not have the right skills for a job, they are 'unqualified.' We use 'un-' as the negative prefix for 'qualified.' 'Inqualified' is incorrect.

  32. Q32Please ___heat the oven before you put the cake inside.

    Answer: C. preheat

    The prefix 'pre-' means 'before.' To 'preheat' the oven means to turn it on so it gets hot before you start baking. 'Reheat' means to make something hot again.

  33. Q33After moving, we ___arranged all the furniture to make the room look better.

    Answer: C. rearranged

    To 'rearrange' means to change the position or order of things. After moving, you put the furniture in new places, so you 'rearranged' it.

  34. Q34The medicine is a ___caution.

    Answer: A. precaution

    A 'precaution' is something you do before an event to stay safe or avoid problems. The prefix 'pre-' means 'before.'

  35. Q35The first draft had many mistakes, so the report was completely ___written.

    Answer: A. rewritten

    When you write something a second time to make it better, it is 'rewritten.' The prefix 're-' means 'again.' 'Unwritten' means it was never written down.

  36. Q36He ___appeared on stage.

    Answer: D. reappeared

    To 'reappear' means to come back into view again. If someone left the stage and then came back out, they 'reappeared.' 'Unappeared' is not a word.

  37. Q37You must ___pay for the items online before they ship.

    Answer: A. prepay

    The prefix 'pre-' means 'before.' If you pay for something before it is sent to you, you 'prepay.' 'Repay' means to give money back to someone.

  38. Q38She is a ___ teacher.

    Answer: C. preschool

    'Preschool' is the school children go to before they are old enough for primary school. The prefix 'pre-' means 'before.'

  39. Q39We watched a ___view of the film before its official release.

    Answer: C. preview

    A 'preview' is a chance to see a movie or show before it is open to the general public. 'Pre-' means 'before.' A 'review' is an opinion written after watching.

  40. Q40The weather report helps to ___ the rain for tomorrow.

    Answer: D. predict

    To 'predict' means to say what will happen in the future (before it happens). The prefix 'pre-' means 'before.' 'Redict' is not a real word.

  41. Q41Don't ___cycle the plastic.

    Answer: A. recycle

    To 'recycle' means to process used items so they can be used again. We use the prefix 're-' (again). 'Uncycle' and 'discycle' are not English words.

  42. Q42I had a ___test before the final exam.

    Answer: D. pretest

    A 'pretest' is a practice test you take before the main exam. The prefix 'pre-' means 'before.' 'Untest' is not a word.

  43. Q43The tickets were ___paid, so we did not need to pay at the door.

    Answer: D. prepaid

    If you pay for tickets before you arrive at the event, they are 'prepaid.' 'Pre-' means 'before.' 'Repaid' means the money was returned to you.

  44. Q44The children were ___teens, so they played at home.

    Answer: A. preteens

    A 'preteen' is a child who is almost a teenager (usually ages 11 or 12). This is the stage before the 'teen' years. 'Pre-' means 'before.'

  45. Q45You can ___order tickets for the concert before they go on sale to the public.

    Answer: A. preorder

    To 'preorder' means to buy or order something before it is officially available for everyone. The prefix 'pre-' means 'before.'

Done? Submit to get your score.

Answer at least one question to submit. Questions you leave out count as skipped.