Page 153 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Language Arts

151
W ORD S ENDING IN -ABLE OR -IBLE

Words ending in -ible
The suffix -ible is usually added to partial root words, many
of which have Latin or Greek origins, but it can also be
added to complete words. Several rules help to distinguish
words that end in -ible from those that end in -able.

▷ Rule 1
Most words ending
in -ible cannot be vis -ible
divided into two visible
English words that
make sense on their
own. The suffix is
needed in order to This Latin root Add the suffix This is the newly
make a whole word. means “see.” after the root. formed adjective.

▷ Rule 2
Words with s or ss
before the ending
usually take -ible. response -ible responsible
If they end in a
vowel, the vowel
is dropped.
This whole root Remove the final e With the addition of
word ends in se. from the root word the suffix, the noun
and add the suffix. response has been
turned into an adjective.
This partial root
word ends in
a double s.
poss -ible possible

Add the suffix This is the newly
after the root. formed adjective.

Soft and hard “c” and “g” sounds The word uncopyrightable is the
Words that end in -able usually have a hard “c”
or “g” sound. In contrast, words that end in -ible longest English word in normal use
usually have a soft “c” or “g” sound. that contains no letter more than once.

Hard “c” or “g” sounds Soft “c” or “g” sounds
amicable forcible
communicable invincible
despicable reducible • Many words that begin with a use the suffix that also
begins with a: -able. Some common examples include
indefatigable legible
adorable, advisable, and available.
navigable tangible