Here's a breakdown of how prefixes work:
* Adding information: Prefixes add meaning related to:
* Size: `micro-` (microscope), `mega-` (megastar)
* Location: `sub-` (subway), `inter-` (international)
* Time: `pre-` (pre-game), `post-` (post-mortem)
* Negation: `un-` (unhappy), `dis-` (disagree)
* Number: `bi-` (bicycle), `tri-` (triangle)
* Changing the word's function: Sometimes, a prefix can also change the grammatical function of a word. For example, `re-` can turn a verb into another verb (rewrite) or an adjective into an adjective (re-opened).
Examples:
* Happy (adjective) becomes unhappy (adjective) by adding the prefix "un-", which negates the original meaning.
* View (verb) becomes preview (verb) by adding the prefix "pre-", which indicates something that happens before the main action.
* National (adjective) becomes international (adjective) by adding the prefix "inter-", which indicates something that involves multiple nations.
In short, prefixes are like little building blocks that attach to the front of words and add specific meanings or change their function.