Classzone: The Language of Literature, Grade 6

Name _______________________________________

Lesson 10 The suffix able

tax + able = taxable

remark + able = remarkable

comfort + able = comfortable

respect + able = respectable

consider + able = considerable

predict + able = predictable

question + able = questionable

favor + able = favorable

bear + able = bearable

enjoy + able = enjoyable

quote + able = quotable

value + able = valuable

imagine + able = imaginable

note + able = notable

advise + able = advisable

rely + able = reliable

vary + able = variable

envy + able = enviable

1.	The suffix able begins with a vowel that cannot be heard clearly or identified easily. What is this indistinct vowel? ________

2.	How many of the words in the first column end with a silent e? ________ When able is added to those words, what happens to the final e? ________________________________________________________________

3.	Do any of the other words change when the suffix able is added? ________

Lesson Generalization

The suffix able, meaning "able to be," is commonly added to complete words to form adjectives.

taxable = able to be taxed imaginable = able to be imagined

If the base word ends with a silent e, drop the e before adding the suffix able.

If the base word ends with a consonant + y, change the y to i before adding the suffix able.