UFLI 126 -able, -ible affixes Flashcards
1
Q
What do the suffixes -able and -ible mean?
A
able to ‘verb’
or
can do ‘verb’
enjoyable –> able to be enjoyed
flexible –> able to move or bend
In summary, there are 3 rules that control how the able/ible
suffix is used.
1. In original Latin words, the suffix was -bil- and the vowel was
the thematic vowel of the verb.
2. In new Latin words where the thematic vowel was no longer
apparent, the suffix was reanalyzed as -ible.
3. Words that are formed in English use -able.
2
Q
enjoyable
A
3
Q
flexible
A
4
Q
observable
A
5
Q
convertible
A
6
Q
teachable
A
7
Q
breakable
A
8
Q
washable
A
9
Q
bendable
A
10
Q
collectible
A
11
Q
digestible
A
12
Q
reversible
A
13
Q
comfortable
A
14
Q
dependable
A
15
Q
lovable
A
