Word With The Suffix Able

Learning suffixes is 1 of my favorite means to help my ESL students increment their English vocabulary. Past adding the suffix ~ABLE 2 words you lot already know you can quickly and easily learn new English language words.

5 common examples of words that use the suffix ~able

available – that yous can get or have access to
comfortable – feeling relaxed with no stress or worry
drinkable – that yous can drink
enjoyable – that you lot tin can enjoy
unbelievable – (informal) used to emphasize how expert, bad or extreme something is

I spent some fourth dimension researching and collecting examples of words that apply the suffix ~able. Go along reading for definitions and real, natural examples that you can use correct away in your own English conversations.

Suffix -able meaning

We'll use the suffix ~able with verbs to make adjectives show that the verb is possible.
drinkable = safe to drink (yous can drink it, it'south non poisonous)

It is also used with nouns to make adjectives that mean having the quality of that noun.
comfortable = having the quality of comfort (it feels relaxing)

Give-and-take Origin – from French -able or Latin -abilis; originally found in words only from these forms simply later used to form adjectives directly from English verbs ending in -ate
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries suffix ~able

What words end with the suffix able?

The suffix ~able is used with verbs and nouns to make new adjectives.
You lot will observe that virtually verbs with the suffix ~able will show possibility and may have CAN in the definition.
Nouns with the suffix ~able show a condition or quality.

22 Possibility adjectives with the suffix -able

adjustable – that tin be moved to unlike positions or changed in shape or size

My wheel seat is adjustable so yous can alter the pinnacle.

agreeable – pleasant and easy to similar

We merely met Kayla's boyfriend today for the offset time. I similar him he'due south very amusing.

available – that you tin can go or have access to

From the verb avail – to make use of something, particularly an opportunity or offer

When I got to the shop they only had actress big shirts bachelor. I need a medium.

avoidable – that can be prevented

We should have prepared more, all this problem was completely avoidable.

believable – that can exist believed

If you get to piece of work tardily y'all need an excuse that is believable, cypher as well crazy.

*Very common unbelievable. [Prefix -Un] That story is unbelievable.

brittle – likely to break; easily broken

Make sure you wrap all the breakable items in thick towels before yous pack them in the box.

chewable – capable of being chewed

Regular vitamins are okay but I adopt chewable ones.

dependable – that can be relied on to practice what you want or need

Earlier I start my new job I need a dependable car to get me to and from work.

doable – able to be done

It was a large task but it was doable. I was confident I could complete it.

drinkable – clean and safe to drink

Many countries don't have drinkable h2o fifty-fifty in their bigger cities.

excusable – that can be excused

If it was an honest error and so information technology's excusable. If it was done on purpose it is not.

*Very common inexcusable. [Prefix -IN] Your actions are inexcusable.

foreseeable – that you can predict volition happen; that can be foreseen

Dwayne and Cassandra are very happy together. I tin can run across them getting married in the foreseeable future.

irritable – getting annoyed easily; showing your anger

Gus is a squeamish guy simply he's a footling bit irritable in the mornings.

justifiable – existing or washed for a expert reason, and therefore acceptable

Information technology'south really cool but in that location'southward no way I tin can spend that much coin on a new car. It's not justifiable correct now.

passable – fairly good but non excellent

My French is non perfect but information technology's passable. I can navigate Montreal without any issues.

perishable – (particularly of food) probable to decay or go bad rapidly

I go along dried and canned nutrient in the pantry and anything perishable goes in the refrigerator.

predictable – if something is predictable, you know in advance that it volition happen or what it will exist like

The movie wasn't bad, it was just a flake predictable. I felt like I always knew what was going to happen.

preventable – that can exist stopped from happening

The accident was preventable in my opinion.

sustainable – ① involving the use of natural products and energy in a way that does not harm the environment

The earth needs to motility towards sustainable energy sources for the future.

② that can continue or exist continued for a long fourth dimension

We are working at a fast pace but I don't think it'south sustainable. The team will burn out rapidly if nosotros don't wearisome down.

unbelievable – (informal) used to emphasize how good, bad or farthermost something is

That movie was unbelievable! Let'south watch information technology again this weekend.

unknowable – that cannot exist known

Understanding the early formation of our universe is hard and may even be unknowable.

clothing – (of dress, etc.) pleasant and comfortable to article of clothing; suitable to be worn

The spring fashion show had some very wear clothes this season. Usually, the mode shows that I scout accept models wearing crazy outfits that are not practical.

Condition adjectives with the suffix -able

10 Status adjectives with the suffix -able

adorable – very bonny and easy to feel beloved for

Have you seen Brenda'southward new puppy? Is and then adorable!

comfortable – feeling relaxed with no stress or worry

Nosotros stayed at my favorite Hotel. The food is awesome and the beds are so comfortable.

considerable – slap-up in amount, size, importance, etc.

The company lost a considerable amount of coin last year.

desirable – that you lot would like to have or do; worth having or doing

The near desirable outcome is the one where everybody wins.

enjoyable – giving pleasance

I constitute the movie very enjoyable.

fashionable – ① following a mode that is popular at a particular time

Jennifer was wearing some fashionable jeans today, she has a nice Mode.

② used or visited past people post-obit a current fashion, specially by rich people

They only opened a very fashionable eatery on Main Street. I heard the food is slap-up only it's also expensive for me.

favorable – making or showing a good stance of somebody/something

When I met my wife'southward family for the first time I wanted to make a favorable impression.

honorable – deserving great respect

Ken is a decent and honorable man. I similar him a lot.

questionable – ① that you have doubts about because you think information technology is not accurate or correct

I reviewed the report and some of these numbers are questionable.

② likely to be dishonest or morally wrong

I'k non certain why Tom did that. His motives are questionable to me.

reasonable – fair, practical, acceptable

That sounds like a reasonable solution to me.

regrettable – that y'all are pitiful well-nigh and wish had non happened

What happened at the party was regrettable. I'm sorry to anyone who was affected by it.

remarkable – unusual or surprising in a way that causes people to take detect

The goalie fabricated a remarkable save in the terminal minute of the game to secure the win for his squad.

Able Vs ~able – Correct Pronunciation

The verb able and the suffix ~able are spelled exactly the same but not pronounced the aforementioned. Here'southward the difference.

The verb able makes an AY audio. (Similar Twenty-four hour period)

Superman is able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. (leap = a high or long jump)

The suffix ~able makes an AH sound. (Like SPA)

Regular vitamins are okay simply I adopt chewable ones.

Suffix ~able vs ~ible What's the Difference

Both suffixes –able and –ible are added to words to brand adjectives that testify something tin exist done.

-ible suffix 1. that tin or must be
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries suffix ~ible

Here are two common adjectives using the suffix –ible

aural – that can be heard clearly

Dogs can hear sounds that are non audible to human ears.

reversible – (of apparel, materials, etc.) that can be turned within out and worn or used with either side showing

I just bought a reversible jacket. The outside is nighttime blue and the inside is light greyness. I can article of clothing it either way.
Learn How to use Either and Neither (video and QUIZ)

The difference

From my research, the suffix –able is even so being used to make new adjectives but the suffix –ible is non.

This means adjectives ending with the suffix -ible are older words that were fabricated in the past.

This is also why nosotros hear words catastrophe with ABLE more than often than words ending with IBLE. New words with the suffix -able are still being made!

The suffixes "-able" and "-ible" are both used to grade adjectives meaning "possible, capable of, suitable for, or causing." Of the 2, "-able" is much more than 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 accept survived into modern English.
Thefreedictionary.com/Commonly-Confused-Suffixes-able-vs-ible

The video clips that I used in this postal service are from a fun video that I found on YouTube. Yous can lookout the whole video here 🙂

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