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what is an able suffix

by Dr. Keely Kihn DVM Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How do you use Able and ible?

  • -able and -ible are both suffixes, groups of letters that are added to a word to change its meaning or use.
  • -able When the root word looks like a whole word then you should be able to add able:
  • -ible when the full root word is not a whole word you can add ible.

-able. a suffix meaning “capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to,” associated in meaning with the word able, occurring in loanwords from Latin (laudable); used in English as a highly productive suffix to form adjectives by addition to stems of any origin (teachable; photographable). Also -ble, -ible.

Full Answer

What does the suffix able means?

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 does the suffix able mean in English?

-able. a suffix meaning “capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to,” associated in meaning with the word able, occurring in loanwords from Latin (laudable); used in English as a highly productive suffix to form adjectives by addition to stems of any origin (teachable; photographable). Also -ble, -ible.

What words end with the suffix able?

understandable = understand + able, enjoyable = enjoy + able, comfortable = comfort + able, dependable = depend + able. If the root word ends in ' e ' then usually we drop the 'e': value + able = valuable, desire + able = desirable, move + able = movable, believable, excitable.

What are words with the suffix able?

  • noticeable
  • changeable
  • manageable
  • laughable
  • transferable
  • preferable
  • suitable
  • impressionable
  • adaptable
  • likeable

More items...

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What are examples of suffix able?

32 Common Examples of the Suffix ~ABLE (With Definitions)available – that you can get or have access to.comfortable – feeling relaxed with no stress or worry.drinkable – that you can drink.enjoyable – that you can enjoy.unbelievable – (informal) used to emphasize how good, bad or extreme something is.

How do you use the suffix able?

Use the –able ending if the root word is not changed e.g. comfort – comfortable. Use the –able ending if there is a related word that ends in –ation e.g. consideration – considerable. Use the –ible ending when you can't hear a whole root word e.g invisible.

How do you know if it's ible or able?

When to use -able and -ible?-able and -ible are both suffixes, groups of letters that are added to a word to change its meaning or use. ... -able When the root word looks like a whole word then you should be able to add able:-ible when the full root word is not a whole word you can add ible.More items...•

Is able a noun suffix?

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.

Which prefix is used for able?

Prefixesbase wordprefixed wordtype of meaningableunableopposite/negationpaymentnon-paymentnegationwarpre-wartime (before)terrestrialextraterrestrialplace (outside of/beyond)2 more rows•Aug 31, 2022

What is the meaning of the suffix able quizlet?

able to be a person of honor; worthy of respect.

Can you add able to any verb?

The most important difference is that -able is a living suffix, meaning we can affix it to virtually any verb without using a hyphen, while -ible is not used to make new words.

What is a suitable prefix for 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, which means to make it possible for something to happen.

What does "ble" mean in English?

common termination and word-forming element of English adjectives (typically based on verbs) and generally adding a notion of "capable of; allowed; worthy of; requiring; to be ______ed," sometimes "full of, causing," from French -able and directly from Latin -abilis. It is properly -ble, from Latin -bilis (the vowel being generally from the stem ending of the verb being suffixed), and it represents PIE *-tro-, a suffix used to form nouns of instrument, cognate with the second syllables of English rudder and saddle (n.).

Can you tell if a word is reasonable?

To take a single example in detail, no-one but a competent philologist can tell whether reasonable comes from the verb or the noun reason, nor whether its original sense was that can be reasoned out, or that can reason, or that can be reasoned with, or that has reason, or that listens to reason, or that is consistent with reason; the ordinary man knows only that it can now mean any of these, & justifiably bases on these & similar facts a generous view of the termination's capabilities; credible meaning for him worthy of credence, why should not reliable & dependable mean worthy of reliance & dependence? [Fowler]

Is "able" a Latin suffix?

In English, -able tends to be used with native (and other non-Latin) words, -ible with words of obvious Latin origin (but there are exceptions). The Latin suffix is not et ymologically connected with able, but it long has been popularly associated with it, and this probably has contributed to its vigor as a living suffix.

What does "able" mean in a sentence?

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 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:

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 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.

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.

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.

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1.Able Suffix - Meaning, words with Suffix Able - successcds

Url:https://www.successcds.net/learn-english/grammar/able-suffix-in-english.html

9 hours ago The suffix "able" generally means capable of, susceptible of or fit for. Words with the suffix “able” Here are a few commonly used words which have suffix able.

2.Videos of What Is An able Suffix

Url:/videos/search?q=what+is+an+able+suffix&qpvt=what+is+an+able+suffix&FORM=VDRE

36 hours ago  · a suffix meaning “capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to,” associated in meaning with the word able, occurring in loanwords from Latin (laudable); used in English as a highly productive suffix to form adjectives by addition to stems of any origin (teachable; photographable).

3.-able | Meaning of suffix -able by etymonline

Url:https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able

30 hours ago -able. a suffix meaning “capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to,” associated in meaning with the word able, occurring in loanwords from Latin (laudable); used in English as a highly productive suffix to form adjectives by addition to stems of any origin (teachable; photographable).

4.Commonly Confused Suffixes: -able vs. -ible

Url:https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Commonly-Confused-Suffixes-able-vs-ible.htm

33 hours ago  · -ABLE Meaning: "capable of; allowed; worthy of; requiring; to be _____ed," sometimes "full of, causing," from French… See definitions of -able.

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