English Worksheet ( Set 9 )

PRE
PRE means BEFORE


This is a common prefix that can be connected to fairly common words as well as more challenging ones. Both are included in this list.

Note that 'before' can have to do with time *or* space. To "predict" is say something will happen before it does; but to "present" something to you is to place it before you in space.

"Pre" can have other meanings than "before," though (as in the words prevail, pretend, prehensile, and prevaricate).

I. FOR EACH WORD:

1. Write the word

2. Write what it means

3. Draw a picture to go with it

4. Answer the question about it.



word
meaning and example
what to draw
question to answer

(you may draw your answer, too)

predict
To tell what one thinks will happen in the future, such as the weather, peoples' behavior, or the outcome of a contest.
Someone predicting something
What are two things you would like to be able to predict?

prevent
To keep something from happening before it happens, such as a window being broken or a person catching a cold
Someone preventing something (and explain what it is)
What are three things you would like to be able to prevent?

preview
a view or showing ahead of time such as "previews" of a movie
Something being previewed (and explain what it is)
What is something besides a movie or TV show that you could preview?


precaution
care or an action taken ahead of time against danger or failure, such as locking the door as a precaution against theft.
An example of something done as a "precaution"
What are four examples of precautions for four different things?

prefer
To choose first or like better (such as preferring vacation over school)
Something you would prefer to do
What are three things you prefer doing?

previous
happening or coming before; such as "on the previous page," meaning the page before, or "in a previous class," meaning some class before this one

What are three things you learned in previous classes?

prenatal
before birth, or during pregnancy
A "prenatal" baby
What would "prenatal care" mean?

pre-owned
Owned by someone else before now; "used."
A pre-owned car
What are three things people often buy "pre-owned?"

prelude
a part that comes before something else, such as a prelude to a piece of music, or dark clouds as a prelude to a storm.
A prelude to an event you enjoy
What are three examples of "preludes?"

preoccupied
having your attention already taken up by something, so you are not paying attention to what is happening around you. For example, if you are preoccupied with a test that is coming, you might not pay attention to what people are saying to you.
Someone who is preoccupied
What are three things someone who is "preoccupied" might say?

prequel
a book or story or movie that is set before something that has already been written. For example, the "Star Wars" series had a prequel set before the first Star Wars movie, where you found out about earlier times and people. The sixth book in the Chronicles of Narnia is a prequel because it tells how Narnia began, even though that book was written after other stories about Narnia.
A scene from the prequel to *your* life story.
Why would someone write a prequel?

predispose
to make something more likely to happen, before it does. For example, not getting enough sleep predisposes people to catching colds or being grumpy. (It is the opposite of taking precautions.) If a person is "predisposed" to act a certain way (such as to agree with others), they are already more likely to act that way than some other way.
Someone who is predisposed to win a marathon
What are three things you could do so that you were predisposed to get good grades?

preamble
an introductory statement before an important statement. The preamble to the constitution explains why the people of the U.S. thought they needed one.

How is a preamble like a prelude?

preempt
to take over something, (such as by getting in front of anyone else who would want it or being more important). Examples: to take over someone's land, to take over a group of people, or for one TV show to replace another (such as a news story or baseball game preempting a regular show).
Something being preempted
What are two things you would not like to be preempted?

preface
Introductory remarks

Where in a book would you find or put the preface?

preprandial
before the evening meal
Someone doing something "preprandially"
What are two of your favorite preprandial activities?


Here are some other words where "pre" means before

pretext, predecessor, preconception, precede, preclude, precognition, preliminary, premeditate, premature, premonition, prenuptial, preordain, prerogative, prerequisite

Complete these sentences with the "pre" word. Be sure to mix these sentences with words learned in previous lessons.

predict, prevent, preview, precaution, prefer, previous, prenatal, pre-owned, prelude, preoccupied, prequel, predisposed, preempt, preface, preprandial

1. I like to take a ___prepandial___ walk to work up my appetite for dinner.

2. I don't like it when the networks ___preempt___ my favorite TV shows because of sports.

3. One of the jobs of the meteorologist on the news is to ___predict___ tomorrow's weather.

4. Just as a ___precaution___ , I always lock the car doors when I am driving.

5. Which of these coats do you ___prefer___ to wear tonight?

6. I don't think Mike heard a word I said because he was so ___preoccupied___ about his sick sister.

7. We got to the concert at the symphony hall just in time -- we barely sat down before the conductor started the ___prelude____ .








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