Prefixes in- and im-
Practise Prefixes in- and im- for GCSE French with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style practice with worked answers for AQA GCSE French (8652). Adding in- or im- gives the opposite meaning, as in possible becoming impossible.
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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA specification. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
The prefixes in- and im- make a word negative, in much the same way as English un- or in-.
Utile means useful; inutile means useless. Possible becomes impossible. Correct becomes incorrect. Recognising the prefix lets you work out unfamiliar words in reading tasks without a dictionary.
The choice between in- and im- depends on the following letter. Im- is used before b, m and p: impossible, immobile, imbattable. In- is used elsewhere: inutile, incorrect, indépendant. A few words use il- or ir- instead, before l and r: illégal, irrégulier. The pattern is entirely about pronunciation.
Revision notes
What the prefixes do
They reverse the meaning of a word.
Utile becomes inutile — useful becomes useless. Possible becomes impossible. Juste becomes injuste. The base word keeps its meaning and the prefix negates it.
Choosing in- or im-
Im- goes before b, m and p: impossible, immobile, imbattable.
In- goes everywhere else: inutile, incorrect, indépendant, injuste. The choice is purely about how the combination sounds.
Il- and ir-
Before l, the prefix becomes il-: illégal, illisible.
Before r, it becomes ir-: irrégulier, irréel. In each case the prefix consonant matches the following letter, which makes the word easier to pronounce.
Key points
- In- and im- make a word negative.
- Utile becomes inutile.
- Im- is used before b, m and p.
- In- is used elsewhere.
- Il- is used before l.
- Ir- is used before r.
Worked examples
Example 1
Give the negative form of utile. [2 marks]
Working
Example 2
Give the negative form of possible. [2 marks]
Working
Example 3
Give the negative form of régulier. [2 marks]
Working
Common mistakes
Using in- before p.
Impossible, not inpossible.
Forgetting the doubled consonant.
Irrégulier has two r's.
Assuming the English prefix transfers.
Some English un- words take in- in French.
Applying the prefix to any word.
Not every adjective takes a negative prefix.
Exam tips
- Check the first letter of the base word.
- Use im- before b, m and p.
- Double the consonant with il- and ir-.
- Use prefixes to decode unfamiliar words.
Key terms
- Prefix
- Letters added to the start of a word.
- In-
- The standard negative prefix.
- Im-
- The form used before b, m and p.
- Negation
- Reversing a word's meaning.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA specification. Spotted an error? Let us know.