Here's a breakdown:
Common Prefixes That Often Indicate Opposites:
* un-: unhappy/happy, unlock/lock, untie/tie
* in-: inactive/active, incorrect/correct, incomplete/complete
* im-: impossible/possible, imperfect/perfect, immoral/moral
* ir-: irregular/regular, irresponsible/responsible, irrelevant/relevant
* dis-: disagree/agree, dishonest/honest, disconnect/connect
* non-: non-fiction/fiction, non-stop/stop, non-existent/existent
Important Considerations:
* Context is Key: Some words with these prefixes might not be true antonyms. For example, "unhappy" isn't necessarily the opposite of "happy" - it simply means "not happy."
* Multiple Meanings: Prefixes can have different meanings depending on the word they attach to. "un-" might mean "not" in "unhappy," but it can also mean "reverse" in "undo."
* No Single Rule: There are many other ways to create antonyms, including using different root words entirely (e.g., "good" and "bad").
It's best to remember that prefixes are just one tool for understanding antonyms. Understanding the nuances of language and context is essential for accurately identifying opposites.