Name _______________________________________

Lesson 29 Forms of the prefix in


in + patient = impatient in + mature = immature
in + perfect = imperfect in + mortal = immortal
in + practical = impractical in + movable = immovable
in + personal = impersonal
in + pure = impure in + legal = illegal
in + proper = improper in + legible = illegible
in + prison = imprison in + literate = illiterate
in + print = imprint
in + press = impress in + regular = irregular
in + responsible = irresponsible
in + resistible = irresistible

The prefix in has two common meanings. It may mean "in or into," or it may mean "not or without." The prefix may be spelled in different ways. The spelling depends on the root to which the prefix is joined.

1. How is the prefix in spelled when it is joined to a base word that begins with a p or an m? _____
2. How is the prefix in spelled when it is joined to a base word that begins with the letter l? _____ with the letter r? _____
3. How many of the words have double consonants because of these changes in the spelling of the prefix? _____
4. Which meaning of the prefix applies to imprison, imprint, and impress? __________________________________________________
Which meaning applies to the remaining words?
__________________________________________________

Lesson Generalization

The prefix in is spelled im before base words that begin with the letters m or p. It changes to ir before the letter r. It changes to il before the letter l. Remember the double consonants when you spell these words.


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