Prefixes: in-, il-, ir-, im-
Another prefix meaning "not" or "the opposite of" is in-.However the spelling of this prefix often changes to
match the first letter of the base word. This sometimes
results in a double letter.
So, if we want to say the opposite of legal we say
"illegal" instead of "inlegal" (which would be awkward
to get your tongue around!).
The pattern is like this:
*Use il- before words starting with l.
So not legible = illegible.
*Use ir- before words starting with r.
So not relevant = irrelevant
*Use im- before words starting with m but also in front
of words starting with p.
So: not mature = immature not perfect = imperfect.
1. Fill in the gaps in the following table. There are four
examples to get you started.
| not literate= | illiterate | not rational= | irrational |
| not mobile = | immobile | not proper = | improper |
| not legitimate= | not regular= | ||
| not modest = | not personal = | ||
| not mortal = | not responsible | ||
| not possible = | not logical = |
| Use in- before any other letter. So:
not adequate = inadequate not capable = incapable not decent = indecent not offensive = inoffensive
Click here for the
answers, here for a relevant
Hangman Puzzle,
here for an interactive quiz on these prefixes and here for a Wordle revision list
Click here for the answers, here for a relevant
Hangman Puzzle,
here for an interactive quiz on these prefixes and here for a Wordle revision list 2. Now memorize the focus words. |
Roger Smith
Focus words
illegible
illiterate
irrelevant
irrational
immature
imperfect
inadequate
incapable
indecent
inoffensive