MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Reading Practice Test

Which prefix would you associate with the suffix -tude to convey a negative state?

1. Sub-

2. Mis-

3. In-

4. Un-

The correct answer is: In-

The suffix -tude typically indicates a state or condition, often used in words such as "attitude" or "solitude." To convey a negative state, the prefix that is most commonly associated is "in-." This prefix transforms a base word into its opposite, indicating negation or lack, as seen in terms like "infertile," which refers to the state of not being fertile. The prefix "sub-" implies a lower state or position but does not inherently convey negativity. "Mis-" suggests incorrectness or wrongness when added to a word, such as in "misunderstanding," but does not form a noun state like -tude. The prefix "un-" also indicates negation, like in "unhappy," yet it typically applies to adjectives rather than noun forms tied to -tude. Therefore, "in-" is the most accurate choice for denoting a negative state when paired with -tude.