Words with -able and -ible

Key Notes:

1. Meaning of Suffixes “-able” and “-ible”

• “-able” and “-ible” are suffixes that turn verbs into adjectives.
• They mean “capable of”, “worthy of”, or “able to be”.

For example:

• Comfortable → Capable of providing comfort.
• Visible → Able to be seen.

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2. Difference Between “-able” and “-ible”

While both suffixes have similar meanings, they often follow different spelling patterns:

-able	-ible
Added to base words that can stand alone.	Added to Latin roots that often can’t stand alone.
Examples: enjoyable, washable, predictable.	Examples: invisible, flexible, tangible.

👉 Tip: If the root word looks complete by itself, it’s usually “-able”!

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3. Examples of “-able” Words

• Comfortable → Able to provide comfort.
• Reliable → Can be trusted or relied on.
• Breakable → Capable of being broken.
• Manageable → Able to be managed or controlled.
• Unstoppable → Impossible to stop (prefix + suffix!).

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4. Examples of “-ible” Words

• Visible → Can be seen.
• Flexible → Able to bend without breaking.
• Responsible → Capable of being trusted.
• Sensible → Showing good sense.
• Edible → Safe to eat.

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5. Spelling Patterns to Remember

• -able is more common than -ible.
• If you remove the suffix and what’s left is a real word, use -able.
  • Enjoyable → “Enjoy” is a complete word.
  • Visible → “Vis” is not complete (so it uses -ible).

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6. Challenge Words for Grade 8

Here are some advanced words to explore:

• Unbelievable
• Irresistible
• Comprehensible
• Fashionable
• Reversible

let’s practice!