- When the base word is a complete and recognizable word, you will usually use -able.
- When the base word ends in -e, you should remove then -e, then add -able. ...
- If you must double the final consonant of the base word or change the final -yto i, add -able.
- In general, -ibleis less common and the base word is not a complete and recognizable word. ...
How do you change the spelling of “-able”?
The most common spelling change made to a word when “-able” is attached is for silent E to be omitted from the end of the word and replaced with the suffix (though this is not always the case). For example: Note that there are many instances in which we do not omit a silent E when adding the vowel suffix “-able.”
What is the difference between -able and -ible?
Sometimes an “-ible” word is related to an existing base word, but the spelling must change slightly to accommodate it. This also occurs with certain words when they attach to “-able” (e.g., when the suffix replaces “-ate” or “-y” becomes “-i-”), but “-ible” can result in much more drastic changes to the spelling of the base word.
How do you know if a base word is -ible or -able?
As with the Latin roots, there are generally no indications in the base word’s spelling to indicate when “-ible” is correct, except for one: base words ending in “-uct” will (almost) always take “-ible” rather than “-able.”
Do silent e words take -ible or -able?
However, as you can see by the size of the list, it is much less common for a silent E word to take “-ible” rather than “-able.” If a word ends in a silent E, it will most likely take the “-able” suffix (and base words ending in “-ate” can only take “-able”).
What is the difference between ible and able?
1. The suffix 'able' is attached to complete root words while 'ible' is generally connected to incomplete root words. 2. The suffix 'able' is usually attached to root words that are non-Latin in origin whereas 'ible' is usually used with words of Latin nature.
What rule applies when adding able or ible to a root word ending in e?
If the root word ends in 'e' then usually we drop the 'e': value + able = valuable, desire + able = desirable, move + able = movable, believable, excitable. BUT words that keep the 'e' are: saleable, hireable, sizeable, likeable, nameable.
How do you spell words with able?
illegible; responsible; eligible; incredible; reversible; invincible; suggestible; contemptible; feasible; negligible; susceptible; convertible; flexible; ostensible; tangible; gullible; terrible; horrible; plausible.
Why do some words drop E when adding able?
When a vowel suffix is attached to a word with a silent E, it often (though not always) results in E being omitted—the vowel of the suffix is able to take over the duties of E so that the pronunciation of the root word does not change. In the case of suffixes beginning with E, they simply replace the silent E.
What does ible do to a word?
An adjective suffix, now usually in a passive sense; forms adjectives meaning "able to be", "relevant or suitable to, in accordance with", or expressing capacity or worthiness in a passive sense.
Which suffix able or ible is more common?
Words ending in “-able” or “-ible” The suffixes “-able” and “-ible” are both used to form adjectives meaning “possible, capable of, suitable for, or causing.” Of the two, “-able” is much more common: it is what's known as a “living” or “productive” suffix, meaning that it is still being used to create new words.
What is prefix of able?
Some prefixes that can be added to the word able are: un- to make the word unable, which means not able to do something. en- to make the word enable,...
Do you drop an e Before able?
Drop the 'e' rule is a very useful rule but like all rules there are exceptions. We usually drop the 'e' at the end of words when adding an ending that begins with a vowel - a vowel suffix: -ing, -ed, -er, -able, -ous, -ible, ious, etc.
What is the drop E Spelling rule?
The Drop e Rule states that when adding a suffix that begins with a vowel to a one-syllable word ending in Silent e, the Silent e is dropped. Understanding this rule allows students to spell words that cannot be spelled exactly as they sound.
What is the E rule?
A simple explanation of the Magic e rule is “An 'e' close behind another vowel (with no more than one letter in between) usually makes the first vowel say its name, and the 'e' is usually silent.” Using a story to teach this rule is often helpful.
What does "ible" mean in spelling?
Sometimes an “-ible” word is related to an existing base word, but the spelling must change slightly to accommodate it. This also occurs with certain words when they attach to “-able” (e.g., when the suffix replaces “-ate” or “-y” becomes “-i-”), but “-ible” can result in much more drastic changes to the spelling of the base word.
Why do we use "able" and "ible"?
Because “-able” is so commonly used with existing base words, the most common tip to remembering the “-ible” variation is that it is usually used with Latin roots that cannot stand alone as words.
Why is it so hard to remember which suffix is correct?
Because they are spelled so similarly and have the same pronunciation ( /əbəl/ ), it can sometimes be hard to remember which is the correct one to use. Unfortunately, there are not very many conventions we can follow to know which suffix to use (and those that do exist are not always reliable).
What is the difference between edible and eatable?
The words eatable and edible are nearly identical in meaning, but there is a subtle distinction in the way each is applied. Edible is most commonly used to describe something that is fit to be eaten. For example, a piece of fruit is edible, but imitation plastic fruit is inedible.
What is the most common spelling change made to a word when “-able” is attached?
The most common spelling change made to a word when “-able” is attached is for silent E to be omitted from the end of the word and replaced with the suffix (though this is not always the case). For example:
What does "defensible" mean?
Defensible is generally used to describe something that is capable of being defended through logical (i.e., non-physical) means, such as an idea or a decision. While it can also relate to physical defense (such as in combat), the former meaning is much more common.
What is the silent E in the word ageing?
discoura ged, discoura ging. mana ged, mana ger, mana ging. (*In British English, the silent E is usually kept in the word ageing, whereas it is usually omitted in American English.) While most common when coming after C/G + E, this convention of keeping E before “-able” does occur after other consonants as well.
What does "able" mean in a word?
When a word ends in -able, the main part of the word (i.e. the bit that comes before the -able ending) is usually a complete word in itself. For example: bearable (from bear ), readable, (from read ), and acceptable (from accept ).
What does "ible" mean when a word ends?
When a word ends in -ible, it's less likely that the part before the ending will be a recognizable English word. Take permissible or audible, for example: ‘permiss’ and ‘aud’ are not English words. This is only a guideline and there are exceptions to the general principle. For example, accessible and collapsible both end in -ible ...
What words end in "ible"?
Here are some common words ending in -ible: illegible; responsible; eligible; incredible; reversible; invincible; suggestible; contemptible; feasible; negligible; susceptible; convertible; flexible; ostensible;
What does "able to be" mean?
They're both common spelling patterns for adjectives and usually sound the same. They mean 'able to' or 'fit for' - acceptable, understandable, responsible ... The following words mean 'able to be' -. available: able to be used or obtained.
What is the root word for "childproofable"?
We can make new adjectives - networkable, childproofable. A general rule is if we take away the suffix (-able) we are usually left with a root word: understandable = understand + able, enjoyable = enjoy + able, comfortable = comfort + able, dependable = depend + able.
Which words keep the e?
BUT words that keep the 'e' are: sal e able, hir e able, siz e able, lik e able, nameable. The best way to remember these is to memorise them. But we can drop the 'e' or keep the 'e in these words, both are correct: likeable/ likable, lovable /loveable, useable/usable.
What does "ible" mean when a word ends?
When a word ends in -ible, the part before the ending is not usually a recognizable English word e.g. ‘terr ible ‘ or ‘horr ible ‘ come from ‘terror’ and ‘horror’ but ‘terr-‘ and ‘horr-‘ are not recognisable English words. ‘-ible’ is only used in older (Latin) words that have survived into modern English. 2. How to remember the difference.
What does "able" mean in French?
Answer. Words which end in ‘-able’ have a recognisable ‘root’ word at the start. ‘- able’ words usually come from French and ‘-able’ is a ‘living’ suffix, meaning that it is still being used to create new words e.g. ‘That name is unpronounceable!’ (unable to be pronounced)