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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

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hello,I'm ayesha from India.
I am always confused with the use of appostophie.I also want to know whether 'in' is a negative prefix or not.For ex:diamond is invaluble.This means diamond is precious and we can't estimate it's value.Here it gives a positive meaning.But at times it gives negative meanings also!!
  

Top answer

It is rather confusing in certain words. In- as a prefix is negative. In the word invaluable, it seems contradictory that it means precious, or very valuable, but what invaluable really means is that a value cannot be calculated.

— S*hart

  • It is rather confusing in certain words.
  • In- as a prefix is negative.
  • In the word invaluable, it seems contradictory that it means precious, or very valuable, but what invaluable really means is that a value cannot be calculated.
  • Of course we can come up with a value for any particular diamond, but diamonds as a whole may be considered invaluable because they can do things that nothing else can, and so there are things we couldn't do if if didn't have them.
  • They are used for cutting where nothing else can (or at least could before technolgical advances), they can warm a woman's heart the way nothing else can.
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2 Answers
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It is rather confusing in certain words. In- as a prefix is negative. In the word invaluable, it seems contradictory that it means precious, or very valuable, but what invaluable really means is that a value cannot be calculated. Of course we can come up with a value for any particular diamond, but diamonds as a whole may be considered invaluable because they can do things that nothing else ca
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Along similar lines, don't confuse "priceless" with "worthless"!

And don't forget that "inflammable" means "flammable"! Emotion: smile
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