Three Tricky Troublemakers

Learning English is fun, but sometimes words can be tricky—like slipping on a banana peel.

Let’s have a closer look at three tricky troublemakers: inhabitable, inflammable, and invaluable.

And be prepared for a surprise.

Inhabitable means suitable for living in. It means exactly the same as habitable. For example, “This remote island is inhabitable despite its small size.”

Inflammable actually means something that can easily catch fire. It means the same as flammable. For example, “Be careful with that inflammable material near the fire.”

Invaluable means extremely useful, incredibly valuable, valuable beyond estimation, or priceless. It’s nearly the same as valuable. For example, “Her guidance was invaluable to the success of the project.“

So there you have it. Now you can conquer those tricky ‘In-‘ words and avoid any misunderstandings.

Remember, language learning is all about having fun and not taking yourself too seriously.

Want to test yourself?

1. Which word would you use to describe something that is suitable for living in?
2. Does inflammable mean it catches fire easily or not at all?
3. Would you describe a rare gem as valuable or invaluable?