Word Formation: Adjective suffixes -ible and -able

In most cases prefixes are devices used to change the meaning of words while suffixes are placed at the end of a word to change its role in the sentence (adjective, noun, adverb).

It's hard to deal with unpredictable events (un- means not predictable)
(-able transforms the verb predict into the adjective (un)predictable.


The suffixes -ible and -able are used to form a number of adjectives as in the example below:

The artists gave an incredible performance.

-able can be transformed into -ably to form an adverb while -ible may be changed into -ibly for the same reason. Look at the following examples:

The artists were incredibly talented. (remember that an adverb also modifies an adjective!)

The baby was comfortably seated.

Add an appropriate prefix and a suffix (-able or -ible / -ably or -ibly) to the part of the word in the sentences below. The completed word may be singular or plural. There is an example!

1) The weather here is so ___predict__: you should always take an umbrella with you, just in case.
2) We know it will be a difficult exam, but we are reason___ confident of success.
3) No one can touch their right elbow with their right hand. IT's a physical ___poss___.
4) You shouldn't leave valu___ in your room if you're staying at a hotel.
5) Last summer was __bear___ hot. Lots of people went to the hospital.
6) Your English has improved consider___. Congratulations!
7) The cottage was a little __comfort___ but we managed to stay there for 2 whole weeks.
8) The old man was incred___ rich; he didn't know what to do with all that money.
9) The park will not accept respons___ for property theft or damage.