Prefixes of Position: SUB-, INTER-, TRANS-, SUPER-

Use position prefixes to picture where or how something happens.

Some prefixes describe position or movement, and they let you picture a word. Sub- means under or below: submarine (under the sea), subway, subtitle (words under the picture), substandard (below the standard). Inter- means between or among: international (between nations), interrupt, intersection (where roads cut between each other). Trans- means across or through: transcontinental, transparent (light passes through), translate (carry meaning across languages).

Super- means above, over, or beyond: superior, supervise (look over), superstructure (the part built above the base). Read: 'The interstate highway passes over a subterranean tunnel. ' Inter + state: between states. Sub + terra (Latin for earth) + -anean: under the ground. You now have a picture: a big road crossing above an underground passage. When technical words pile up, position prefixes are often the fastest way to make a mental map of what the text is describing.

• 1SUB- means under; SUPER- means above or beyond.
• 2INTER- means between; TRANS- means across or through.
• 3Position prefixes help you picture what a word describes.