Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/3-1-4-compound-words-and-prefixes

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [11+](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11.md) › [Verbal Reasoning](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning.md) › [11+ Verbal Reasoning](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning.md) › Compound Words & Prefixes

# Compound Words & Prefixes

11+ Verbal Reasoning, topic 3.1.4

## Compound Words and Prefixes

To test your knowledge of compound words (and especially your knowledge of prefixes), you may be asked to select a prefix that creates three new words.

### Example

![Example](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-05/5159763c-9c1f-4f4d-875f-3e72e9fbc7d7/example-.jpg)

- [   ] prove,   [   ] port,   [   ] moral

### Step 1

![Step 1](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-01/ca85be70-2377-437a-a742-dcb8f17130e0/mixture-puzzle.jpg)

- Try adding prefixes to the first word:
 - ****Dis****prove is a word.
 - ****Im****prove is a word.

### Step 2

![Step 2](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/796d9df8-e274-426c-a397-a3acc247c320/pen-self-report-questionnaire-rate-cross-.jpg)

- Try adding the first prefix to the other words:
 - ****Dis****port is NOT a word.
 - ****Dis****moral is NOT a word.
    - So 'dis-' cannot be the right prefix.

### Step 3

![Step 3](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/d9abeb87-aa7a-42d6-adef-7e16a3f6dc59/tick-305245_960_720.png)

- Try adding the second prefix to the other words:
 - ****Im****port IS a word.
 - ****Im****moral IS a word.
    - So 'im-' must be the right prefix.

### Write the answer

![Write the answer](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/f36b7b79-ea0a-4679-9b4c-3e3dee2d7628/shutterstock_151790942.jpg)

- The prefix is 'im'.
 - ****Im****prove, ****im****port, ****im****moral

## Test yourself on Compound Words & Prefixes

- Which prefix would turn these three words into new words?[  ] aches, [ ] amble, [ ] exist
- Which prefix would turn these three words into new words?[ ] arm, [ ] name, [ ] head

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/6cac61d4-b7cc-4359-abc6-f81a2cb7a545/section/6278f342-e964-4039-8a2a-68002779435e/session)

- Previous topic: [3.1.3 Prefixes - Recap 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/3-1-3-prefixes-recap-2.md)
- Next topic: [3.2.1 Rearranging Words](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/3-2-1-rearranging-words.md)

## 11+ Verbal Reasoning contents

### 1 Codes
- 1.1 Symbol & Number Codes
  - [1.1.1 Symbol & Number Codes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/1-1-1-symbol-and-number-codes.md)
- 1.2 Alphabet Codes - Same Direction
  - [1.2.1 Alphabet Codes - Moving Right](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/1-2-1-alphabet-codes-moving-right.md)
  - [1.2.2 Alphabet Codes - Moving Left](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/1-2-2-alphabet-codes-moving-left.md)
- 1.3 Alphabet Codes - Different Directions
  - [1.3.1 Alphabet Codes - Moving Left & Right](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/1-3-1-alphabet-codes-moving-left-and-right.md)
- 1.4 Alphabet Codes - Practice!
  - [1.4.1 Alphabet Codes - Practice!](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/1-4-1-alphabet-codes-practice.md)

### 2 Word Association
- 2.1 Word Association
  - [2.1.1 Word Association](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/2-1-1-word-association.md)
- 2.2 Synonyms & Antonyms
  - [2.2.1 Synonyms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/2-2-1-synonyms.md)
  - [2.2.2 Antonyms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/2-2-2-antonyms.md)
  - [2.2.3 Synonyms & Antonyms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/2-2-3-synonyms-and-antonyms.md)

### 3 Changing Words
- 3.1 Compound Words
  - [3.1.1 Making Longer Words](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/3-1-1-making-longer-words.md)
  - [3.1.2 Prefixes - Recap](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/3-1-2-prefixes-recap.md)
  - [3.1.3 Prefixes - Recap 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/3-1-3-prefixes-recap-2.md)
  - [3.1.4 Compound Words & Prefixes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/3-1-4-compound-words-and-prefixes.md)
- 3.2 Anagrams
  - [3.2.1 Rearranging Words](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/3-2-1-rearranging-words.md)
  - [3.2.2 Rearranging Words To Make Connections](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/3-2-2-rearranging-words-to-make-connections.md)
- 3.3 Letter Ladders
  - [3.3.1 Letter Ladders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/3-3-1-letter-ladders.md)

### 4 Completing Words
- 4.1 Completing Words
  - [4.1.1 Completing Two Words](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/4-1-1-completing-two-words.md)
  - [4.1.2 Completing One Word](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/4-1-2-completing-one-word.md)
  - [4.1.3 Completing Many Words](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/4-1-3-completing-many-words.md)

### 5 Sentences
- 5.1 Completing Sentences
  - [5.1.1 Appropriate Word Choice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/5-1-1-appropriate-word-choice.md)
- 5.2 Hidden Words
  - [5.2.1 Hidden Words in Sentences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/5-2-1-hidden-words-in-sentences.md)
- 5.3 Syntax
  - [5.3.1 Organising Words in Sentences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/11/verbal-reasoning/11-verbal-reasoning/5-3-1-organising-words-in-sentences.md)
