in-/im-
ɪn / ɪm
in- is a wall across the road — and sometimes a door
The picture A wall stands up in front of the word and the road stops. Put a door in that wall and you go inside instead. in-/im- blocks the road from the start; un- unties what was already done.
Where the picture shows up in in-/im-
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the road to doing it is blocked
Friday is impossible for me.
ˈfraɪdeɪ ɪz ɪmˈpɑːsəbəl fɔːr miː
Friday doesn't work for me.
A wall stands in front of Friday on the calendar and your foot can go no further.
in- turns into im- before p.
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a box still waiting
The form is incomplete without a signature.
ðə fɔːrm ɪz ˌɪnkəmˈpliːt wɪˈðaʊt ə ˈsɪɡnətʃər
Without a signature the form isn't finished.
One white signature box at the bottom of the page, and nothing can move past it.
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the road to the right one is blocked
This address is incorrect.
ðɪs ˈædres ɪz ˌɪnkəˈrekt
This address is wrong.
You follow the written address, hit a blank wall, and have to walk back.
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the waiting runs out
The customers are getting impatient.
ðə ˈkʌstəmərz ɑːr ˈɡetɪŋ ɪmˈpeɪʃənt
The customers are starting to get annoyed.
A wall blocks the head of the queue, and the people behind it tap their toes and stare up at the clock.
im- before m.
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taken inside
Does that price include tax?
dʌz ðæt praɪs ɪnˈkluːd tæks
Is the tax part of that price?
Inside the big circle of the price, a smaller lump marked tax comes in and sits down.
Here it is not a wall but 'into' — in + clude (shut).
All of it in one picture
in- is one wall set up in front of a word. Block the road to doing it and you get impossible; block the box still waiting to be filled and you get incomplete; block the road to the right answer and you get incorrect; block the patience and you get impatient. But put a door in that wall and the arrow turns inward: bring the tax inside the price and you include it. Before p, m and b the sound slides and the wall is written im-.