Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:26 am Un-, in-, ir-, im-,... |
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Hi
Oh, yes… As far as I know from my tutor, there is no formal rule – you have just to learn the opposite forms by heart - except for words that begin with the same letter as a possible prefix finishes:
irresistible, illegal, immortal, etc.
Tamara
P.S indescribable is correct. _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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Wed Aug 09, 2006 10:25 am Indescribable or undescribable |
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Hi Hon 
As Tamara mentioned, there are several prefixes that are used to add the concept of not to a word --- in other words, to create a word with the opposite meaning. For example: un-, im-, il-, ir-, in-
There is no "100%" rule about using these prefixes, but there is a little help with "half-rules" (so to speak). Some of these prefixes are used only with words that begin with a certain letter.
im- This is only used with words (but not all of them) that begin with M or P: immeasurable, impolite, impossible BUT unmasked, unperturbed
il- This is only used with words (but not all of them) that begin with L: illegal, illegible, illogical BUT unloaded
ir- This is only used with words (but not all of them) that begin with R irreplaceable, irrelevant BUT unreasonable
The prefix in- has no "half-rule" whatsoever as far as I know, but it is often used with words beginning with a vowel: inadmissable, inedible, inexplicable, inoperable
And, of course, there is also the prefix dis-: dissastisfied
There are only "half-rules" that you can use as a very general guideline for these prefixes. Unfortunately, there are no 100% rules.
Amy _________________ Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 7378 Location: Northeast US
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