[Grammar] Using in- or un- in Opposites

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AR MK

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To oppisite a word, we use in- and un- ..

for example , the oppsite of competent is incompetent , and ambitious is unambitious ..

Ok, when do I use in- and when do I use un- ?why dont we say uncompetent or inambitious ?

is there a grammatical rule for that ?
 

emsr2d2

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To make the opposite of a word, we use in- and un-.

For example, the opposite of competent is incompetent, and of ambitious it's unambitious.

Ok, when do I use in- and when do I use un-? Why don't we say uncompetent or inambitious?

Is there a grammatical rule for that?

Sadly, I'm afraid the answer is you just have to learn them! I have never discovered a rule for them. Also, there are other prefixes to incorporate too.

Happy - unhappy
Articulate - inarticulate
Proportionate - disproportionate
Clean - unclean
Appropriate - inappropriate
Typical - atypical

I suggest that each time you come across a new adjective, immediately look up the opposite and try to learn it at the same time.


Additional note: Take care with your capitalisation and punctuation. See my amendments in red of your original post.
 
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