English LanguageJunior English
Adjective Forming ending part – I
Adjective Forming ending
The two endings ‘-able’ and ‘-ible’ are pronounced the same, but they pose a problem for beginners.
Be familiar with the following ‘-able’ adjectives:
Countable, drinkable, microwavable, breakable, uncrushable, eatable, stretchable, amicable, impeccable, indefatigable, applicable, implacable, irrigable, despicable, inexplicable, navigable, educable, inextricable, practicable, amiable, negotiable, appreciable, pliable, insatiable, sociable, liable, viable, adorable. datable, definable, gradable, quotable, usable, curable, debatable, excusable, notable, reputable, valuable, agreeable, disagreeable, foreseeable, changeable, manageable, replaceable, enforceable, noticeable, serviceable, knowledgeable, peaceable, traceable
Countable, drinkable, microwavable, breakable, uncrushable, eatable, stretchable, amicable, impeccable, indefatigable, applicable, implacable, irrigable, despicable, inexplicable, navigable, educable, inextricable, practicable, amiable, negotiable, appreciable, pliable, insatiable, sociable, liable, viable, adorable. datable, definable, gradable, quotable, usable, curable, debatable, excusable, notable, reputable, valuable, agreeable, disagreeable, foreseeable, changeable, manageable, replaceable, enforceable, noticeable, serviceable, knowledgeable, peaceable, traceable
In certain instances the silent ‘e’ is often not dropped before adding ‘-able’.
- blamable or blameable
- livable or liveable
- microwavable or microwaveable
- namable or nameable
- unshakable or unshakeable
- likable or likeable
- lovable or loveable
- movable or moveable
- ratable or rateable
- sizable or sizeable
If a verb ends in ‘y’, ‘y’ changes to ‘i’ before adding ‘-able’.
- Classify – classifiable
- Copy – copiable
- Deny – deniable
- Envy – enviable
- Photocopy – photocopiable
- Rely – reliable
- Vary -variable
Exceptions
- buy-buyable
- pay payable
- say- sayable
Verbs that double their last consonant when adding ‘-ing’ also double it before ‘-able’.
- Club – clubbable
- Hug – huggable
- Regret – regrettable
- Stop – stoppable
Verbs that end in ‘-fer’ do not double the ‘r’ before ‘-able’.
- Defer deferable
- Infer inferable
- Prefer preferable
- Transfer transferable
Continued on Adjective Forming ending part – II
