Learn Negative Prefixes in English: IN-, IM-, IL-, IR-, IG-

Learn English with Gill · engVid
9 Nov 201823:31
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this engVid lesson, Gill teaches viewers how to expand their vocabulary by understanding and using negative prefixes. She explains that adding a prefix like 'in', 'im', 'il', 'ir', or 'ig' to the beginning of a word can change its meaning to the opposite. Gill provides examples for each prefix and notes exceptions, such as 'infamous' vs. 'inhuman'. She also cautions against assuming all words starting with these letters are negative, offering examples like 'influence' and 'improve'. The lesson aims to help learners enhance their English and includes a link to a quiz on the engVid website for further practice.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Understanding negative prefixes can significantly boost your vocabulary by adding a simple twist to positive words.
  • 🔤 The prefix 'in-' is used with words that start with 'c', 'm', 'p', 'f', and sometimes 's', to create their negative forms.
  • 🔡 Examples of words using 'in-' include 'incorrect', 'incomplete', 'inefficient', 'informal', 'inhuman', 'insecure', and 'invisible'.
  • 📈 The exception to the 'in-' rule is with 'famous' and 'infamous', where 'infamous' means well-known for a bad reason.
  • 📝 The 'im-' prefix is used with words that generally start with 'm' or 'p', and it's important to remember that it's not always about the first letter.
  • 🌰 Words with 'im-' include 'immature', 'impatient', 'imperfect', 'impolite', and 'impossible'.
  • 🔎 The 'il-' prefix often accompanies words starting with 'l', creating a double 'l' in the negative form, such as 'illegal', 'illegible', and 'illiterate'.
  • ⏏️ The 'ir-' prefix is used with words beginning with 'r', resulting in 'irregular', 'irrelevant', 'irresistible', 'irresponsible', and 'irreversible'.
  • 🚫 Not all words starting with the letters 'in', 'im', 'il', 'ir', or 'ig' are negative; some are simply regular words like 'influence', 'impact', and 'ignite'.
  • 📚 Learning and practicing with negative prefixes can help you distinguish between positive and negative meanings of words.
  • 💡 Visit www.engvid.com for additional resources and quizzes to further enhance your understanding of negative prefixes and expand your vocabulary.
Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the lesson?

    -The main topic of the lesson is how to increase vocabulary by using negative prefixes.

  • What does the prefix 'in-' do to a word?

    -The prefix 'in-' is used to make a word negative, reversing its meaning.

  • How many negative prefixes are there in English according to the lesson?

    -There are 12 negative prefixes in English, as mentioned in the lesson.

  • What is an example of a word with the 'in-' prefix?

    -An example of a word with the 'in-' prefix is 'incorrect', which means not correct.

  • What is the rule for using the prefix 'im-'?

    -There is no strict rule for using 'im-'; it's about getting used to whether it sounds right or not, and it often depends on the word it precedes.

  • What does the prefix 'ir-' typically negate words that start with?

    -The prefix 'ir-' typically negates words that start with the letter 'r', resulting in an 'i' double 'r' combination.

  • What is an exception to the 'in-' prefix rule?

    -An exception to the 'in-' prefix rule is the word 'infamous', which, despite starting with 'in-', means 'famous in a bad way' rather than the opposite of famous.

  • What is the meaning of the word 'illegible'?

    -'Illegible' means something that cannot be read or is difficult to read, often referring to handwriting.

  • What is the difference between 'irregular' and 'regular'?

    -'Irregular' means not following a pattern or happening at uneven intervals, while 'regular' means happening in a consistent, predictable manner.

  • What are some words that start with the letters 'in', 'im', 'ir', 'il', 'ig' but are not negative?

    -Some words that start with these letters but are not negative include 'influence', 'impact', 'improve', 'illusion', 'irrigate', and 'ignite'.

  • How can learning negative prefixes help in English language learning?

    -Learning negative prefixes can enhance vocabulary by allowing learners to understand and use negative forms of words, thus expanding their ability to express both positive and negative concepts.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Understanding Negative Prefixes

This paragraph introduces the concept of negative prefixes in English vocabulary. It explains how adding a negative prefix to a word can change its meaning to the opposite. The focus is on the prefix 'in-', used with words starting with 'i', and provides examples such as 'incorrect', 'incomplete', 'inefficient', 'informal', 'inhuman', 'insecure', and 'invisible'. It also touches on the exception with 'infamous', which is different from the general rule, and contrasts it with 'famous'. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of learning these prefixes to expand one's vocabulary.

05:08
📝 Exploring 'Im-' and 'In-' Prefixes

This section delves into the 'im-' and 'in-' prefixes, which are used with words starting with 'm' and 'l' respectively. It explains that there's no strict rule but rather a pattern based on the initial letter of the word. Examples include 'immature', 'impatient', 'imperfect', 'impolite', and 'illegal'. The paragraph also highlights the double 'l' in 'illegible' and 'illiterate', and the double 'r' in 'irregular' and 'irrelevant'. It concludes with the 'ir-' prefix, discussing words like 'irresistible' and 'irreversible', and notes that not all words starting with these letters are negative.

10:18
🔤 Negative Prefixes with 'Il-' and 'Ir-'

This paragraph continues the discussion on negative prefixes, focusing on 'il-' and 'ir-'. It provides examples like 'illegal', 'illegible', 'illiterate', 'illogical', and contrasts them with their positive counterparts. The section also covers 'irregular', 'irrelevant', 'irresistible', 'resistible', 'responsible', and 'irreversible', emphasizing the difference between negative and positive meanings. The paragraph concludes by mentioning that 'ignoble' is an old-fashioned word for someone who behaves badly, contrasting with 'noble'.

15:22
🚫 Not All Words with Negative Prefixes Are Negative

The final paragraph emphasizes that not all words starting with the letters 'in', 'im', 'il', 'ir', or 'ig' are negative. It lists examples such as 'influence', 'impact', 'improve', 'illusion', 'irrigate', and 'ignite', which are not negative but happen to start with these letters. The paragraph concludes by encouraging learners to explore other lessons on negative prefixes and to visit the website for further practice, reinforcing the idea that understanding prefixes can significantly enhance one's vocabulary.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Negative Prefix
A negative prefix is a linguistic term referring to a word part added to the beginning of a base word to create its opposite or negative meaning. In the context of the video, this concept is central to expanding one's vocabulary by simply adding such prefixes to existing words. For instance, adding 'in-' to 'complete' forms 'incomplete', which means not fully finished.
💡Vocabulary
Vocabulary refers to a person's collection of words known to them, especially those that they use regularly. The video's main theme revolves around enhancing one's vocabulary by understanding and applying negative prefixes. By learning these prefixes, viewers can increase their word power and express themselves more precisely.
💡Prefixes
Prefixes are groups of letters added to the start of a word to change its meaning. In the video, various prefixes such as 'in-', 'im-', 'il-', 'ir-', and 'ig-' are discussed, each creating a negative meaning of the base word they are attached to. Understanding these prefixes is key to expanding vocabulary and grasping the negative connotations of words.
💡Incomplete
Incomplete refers to something that is not fully finished or lacking parts. In the video, 'incomplete' is used to illustrate how adding a negative prefix inverts the meaning of the word 'complete'. It demonstrates how easy it is to expand vocabulary by understanding these linguistic modifications.
💡Efficient
Efficient describes the ability to perform tasks with minimal waste of time or effort. In the video, 'efficient' is contrasted with 'inefficient', which means not efficient, to show how adding a negative prefix changes the word's meaning. This is part of the strategy to build vocabulary by learning the negative forms of positive adjectives.
💡Formal
Formal refers to a style or manner of speech or behavior that is typical in official situations or adheres to traditional rules. In the video, 'formal' is used to demonstrate how adding a negative prefix 'in-' results in 'informal', which is a less structured and more casual way of speaking or behaving.
💡Human
Human relates to the qualities or actions characteristic of human beings, as opposed to those of animals or machines. In the video, 'inhuman' is used to describe actions that are cruel or lacking empathy, which is the opposite of being 'human', highlighting the importance of understanding the negative prefixes to grasp the nuanced meanings of words.
💡Secure
Secure means being free from danger or fear, or having confidence in the stability of one's circumstances. The video contrasts 'secure' with 'insecure', which means feeling uncertain or unsafe, to show how negative prefixes can change the sentiment of a word.
💡Visible
Visible means able to be seen or noticed. In the video, 'visible' is contrasted with 'invisible', which means not able to be seen. This distinction is used to illustrate how adding a negative prefix can alter the meaning of a word, enhancing the viewer's understanding of vocabulary expansion techniques.
💡Infamous
Infamous means widely known for some negative reason, typically for doing something bad or illegal. In the video, 'infamous' is used to contrast with 'famous', which means well-known for positive reasons. The example of Al Capone being 'infamous' highlights the nuanced meanings that can be conveyed by words with negative prefixes.
💡Impossible
Impossible means not possible to achieve or exist. In the video, 'impossible' is used to demonstrate the use of the 'im-' prefix, which is added to 'possible' to create its opposite. The concept is used to show how understanding negative prefixes can help in expanding one's vocabulary and grasping the range of meanings that words can express.
Highlights

The lesson focuses on increasing vocabulary by learning negative prefixes.

Negative prefixes are added at the beginning of a word to create its opposite meaning.

The word 'correct' becomes 'incorrect' with the addition of 'in' to make it negative.

There are 12 negative prefixes in English, covered in two lessons.

Five prefixes begin with the letter 'i' and are covered in this lesson.

Examples of words with the 'in' prefix include 'incomplete', 'incorrect', 'inefficient', 'informal', and 'inhuman'.

The word 'secure' becomes 'insecure' when made negative, indicating a lack of safety.

The 'in' prefix does not always mean the opposite; 'infamous' still means famous but in a negative way.

The 'im' prefix is used with words like 'immature', 'impatient', 'imperfect', 'impolite', and 'impossible'.

The 'il' prefix often pairs with words starting with 'l', such as 'illegal', 'illegible', and 'illiterate'.

Words with the 'ir' prefix include 'irregular', 'irrelevant', 'irresistible', 'irresponsible', and 'irreversible'.

The 'ig' prefix is rarely used, with 'ignoble' being a notable example.

Not all words starting with 'in', 'im', 'il', 'ir', or 'ig' are negative; some are positive words like 'influence' and 'impact'.

The lesson provides a method to expand vocabulary by understanding and applying negative prefixes.

The use of negative prefixes can enhance language learning and improve communication skills.

The lesson includes practical examples to illustrate the use of each negative prefix.

Understanding the nuances of negative prefixes can help avoid common mistakes in English.

The lesson encourages learners to explore the English language and expand their vocabulary actively.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

English Grammar: Negative Prefixes - "un", "dis", "in", "im", "non"

When to use CAPITAL LETTERS in English

English Vocabulary: Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes

Prepositions: Fix 8 Common Errors with the F.U.N. method!

PREFIXES & SUFFIXES | English Lesson

Affixes - Learn Prefixes and Suffixes in English - prefixes and Suffixes examples

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
Vocabulary BuildingEnglish LanguageNegative PrefixesWord FormationLanguage LearningEngVid LessonsGrammar TipsPrefixes ListEnglish PronunciationWord Meanings