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why do some words end in able or ible

by Dr. Johnathon Bogisich Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Why do some words end in able or 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 and -ible are both suffixes, groups of letters that are added to a word to change its meaning or use. When -able and -ible are added to words it generally means 'capable of being' e.g. Enjoyable: can enjoy.Nov 26, 2012

Full Answer

What are all words ending with able?

15-letter words that end in able

  • interchange able
  • photodegrad able
  • unchallenge able
  • incommensur able
  • unobjection able
  • unexception able
  • unpronounce able
  • uncompromis able
  • uncopyright able
  • nonsediment able

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What words have ible in them?

Like “-able,” the “-ible” ending can also replace silent E at the end of existing base words, as in:

  • coerce→coerc ible
  • collapse→collaps ible
  • corrode→corrod ible
  • deduce→deduc ible
  • diffuse→diffus ible
  • erode→erod ible
  • evade→evad ible
  • evince→evinc ible
  • immerse→immers ible
  • force→forc ible

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What do the suffixes ible and able mean?

remissible

  1. Which of the following suffixes is used to create new words meaning “able to, suited for, or capable of”? a) “-able” b) “-ible”
  2. For existing base words, which of the following endings will only take the “-able” suffix? a) “-ide” b) “-ect” c) “-ate” d) “-ss”
  3. True or False: Only “-ible” can be used with incomplete Latin roots. ...

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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.

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How do you know if a word ends in ible or 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.

What is the rule for adding able?

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. Leave the -e when the word ends in -ce or -ge. If you must double the final consonant of the base word or change the final -y to i, add -able.

What is the meaning of the suffix ible or able?

able to beSuffix. -ible. 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 are words ending in able called?

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.

What kind of words end in able?

likeable; peaceable; debatable; pleasurable; adaptable; inimitable; capable; adorable; desirable; justifiable; preferable; disposable; knowledgeable; amiable; durable; laughable; fashionable; reliable; excitable; lovable; believable; excusable; manageable; serviceable; measurable; sizeable; noticeable; suitable; ...

Can you end a sentence with able?

Writers of English have been happily “splitting” infinitives since the 1300s. So if you want to happily join them, feel free. It's not a matter of ending the sentence with a preposition or not—it's a matter of being able to leave out the preposition altogether.

What is the meaning of be able?

to have the necessary physical strength, mental power, skill, time, money, or opportunity to do something: Will she be able to cope with the work? See more. be better able to do something.

What are some able words?

11-letter words that end in ablecomfortable.sustainable.unfavorable.accountable.respectable.fashionable.unavailable.practicable.More items...

What are examples of suffix?

Common Suffixes in EnglishSuffixMeaningExample-acystate or qualityprivacy, fallacy, delicacy-alact or process ofrefusal, recital, rebuttal-ance, -encestate or quality ofmaintenance, eminence, assurance-domplace or state of beingfreedom, kingdom, boredom8 more rows•Feb 14, 2020

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,...

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 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 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;

Angus Kidman

I saw the sign pictured above over the Christmas break (hi Yarragon!), and realised something: I didn’t know if there was any underlying principle to when a word is spelled with -able or -ible on the end. It was time to find out.

Angus Kidman

Angus Kidman | Lifehacker Editor Angus has been writing professionally about technology since 1994 and breaking it for even longer. He is based in Sydney but spends a frankly unhealthy portion of his life on the road, tracking down the latest stories.

What is the ible ending?

The -ible ending is for words of Latin origin. There are about 180 words ending in -ible. No new words are being created with -ible endings. The -able ending is for: This rule can help you decide the correct spelling. It works most (but not all!) of the time.

What happens if you remove able from a word?

If you remove -able from a word, you are left with a complete word (renewable, renew). If you remove -ible from a word, you are not left with a complete word (sensible, sens ). But note that accessible, contemptible, digestible, flexible and suggestible are among the exceptions to this rule.

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)

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

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

28 hours ago 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. The variant “-ible,” on the other hand, is only used in older words that have survived into modern English.

2.Words ending in -able or –ible | Lexico.com

Url:https://www.lexico.com/grammar/words-ending-in-able-or-ible

24 hours ago These endings are found in adjectives that usually mean ‘able to be …’. For example: available: able to be used or obtained. audible: able to be heard. breakable: able to be broken. visible: able to be seen. Words ending in -able. As a general rule, there are lots more adjectives ending in -able, but here are some tips to help you make ...

3.Why Do Words End In -Able Or -Ible? - lifehacker.com.au

Url:https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2015/01/why-do-words-end-in-able-or-ible/

29 hours ago Many words end in -ible or -able. Sometimes it is difficult to remember which spelling to use. The -ible ending is for words of Latin origin. There are about 180 words ending in -ible. No new words are being created with -ible endings. This rule can help you decide the correct spelling.

4.-ible or -able | Spelling | EnglishClub

Url:https://www.englishclub.com/spelling/rules-ible-able.htm

13 hours ago What does able mean at the end of a word? 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).

5.IELTS word formation: words ending in -able and -ible

Url:https://ieltsetc.com/2020/12/words-ending-in-able-or-ible/

34 hours ago  · The drop the silent-e rule applies whether adding ible or able: When adding a suffix that begins with a vowel to a root (Latin/Greek) or a root-word that ends with a silent-e, drop the e. Both ible and able begin with a vowel. spons and spond are two spellings of the same Latin root. accept is not a root-word: prefix ac + Latin root cept = accept

6.ELI5: Why do some words end in "ible" and some end in …

Url:https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ixs0iy/eli5_why_do_some_words_end_in_ible_and_some_end/

15 hours ago Generally, "ible" is used with words of a strict Latin origin while "able" is used for non-Latin words, though there are exceptions. 3. level 1. · 10m. ible is for most words from a Latin origin. able is for most words from a non latin origin, and also and "new" words. However, this isnt set in stone, and some latin based words do use able.

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