"Un" or "in"?

Question

How do I know whether to use "un" or "in" before a word in order to express its opposite meaning?

Answer 1

I could be wrong (it's rare, but it happens), but I don't think there's any clear-cut way of remembering which prefix goes with which term. For example, you just have to remember that somebody is undefeated and that a bank vault is inaccessible to the general public. Maybe somebody else will provide a way to remember, but I think you just have to learn which goes where.

It does remind me of my favorite Simpsons quote: "Me fail English? That's unpossible!"

Answer 2

You would use un for words that you want to the word to mean that something is changed back to the way it use to be as when something you do becomes "un"done

Examples:

unloved
untied
unsure

You use in when you want to make the word mean that a characteristic is changing meanings or changing into something different whether it is good bad or "in"different

Examples:

independent
indecent
insure

Another simpler way to say it is that "un" goes with verbs and and "in" goes with adjectives.

So here's the kicker. What if you have "dated" your boy/girlfriend and break up. Then, according to the rule, you would describe yourself as "undated", which is now an adjective. So now if you get back together you would become what ... that's right ...

inundated!

Answer 3

I think they basically mean the same. `Un` means not, or opposite of and so it seems does `in`! You just have to remember which precedes which word!

Answer 4

Get ur self habituated to reading so that it becomes instinctive then u'll have absolutely no problem in figuring out the difference..like interesting=uninteresting...go on the phonetic sounds, which is more apt in pronunciation once u know this u've hit bulls eye!!(grammer books dont help much)

Answer 5

I don't believe that there is such a rule. It is just one of the many things about the english language that makes it more difficult than other languages to learn. You just have to learn which prefix to use by experience.

Answer 6

I still trying to figure out if I am "in the yard" or "on the yard". LOL!
But, as mentioned, I think it just something we learn from the usage of words.

Answer 7

Sorry, there is no rule. You just have to learn the right prefix. There is one generalisation about 'in' and 'im':

IM+p
im-possible
im-perfect

IN+ other letters
in-decisive
in-evitable