English Toolkit

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27.2Incorrect negative prefixes
TYPICAL ERROR Your suggestion is quite unpractical.
CORRECTION Your suggestion is quite impractical.

EXPLANATION To make the negative versions of words, we often attach prefixes: for example, believable becomes unbelievable but credible becomes incredible. (The logic is that in- tends to be used if the word comes from Latin. Note also that the ending is -ible for Latin words but -able for 'English' words: incredible, unbelievable.) While un- and in- are most frequently used as negative prefixes, there are others. Here are guidelines for which prefix to choose with which words:

  • The prefix im- is used before many words beginning with m or p (for example impractical, improper).
  • The prefix il- is used before many words beginning with l (for example illegal, illogical).
  • The prefix ir- is used before many words beginning with r (for example irrelevant, irreversible).

Add a prefix to each of these words to create its negative form. For example, believable would become unbelievable and credible would become incredible.
adone
bliterate
cmovable
dprobable
ecooked
fresponsible
gcertain
hreplaceable
ilegible
jarticulate
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