--- title: "Spelling -able & -ible" description: "Spell words ending in -able/-ible and the corresponding adverb forms -ably/-ibly, applying patterns to determine which suffix to use based on the root word" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-able-and-ible-mt_9hBs430cU4 source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-able-and-ible-mt_9hBs430cU4.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Spelling -able & -ible Spell words ending in -able/-ible and the corresponding adverb forms -ably/-ibly, applying patterns to determine which suffix to use based on the root word Subject: English · Area: Spelling & Word Study · Ages 9 to 10 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-able-and-ible-mt_9hBs430cU4 ## Ready when they can - Use complete base words as a clue to -able, learn common -ible spellings such as visible and possible, and recognise counterexamples such as flexible and sociable - Convert -able/-ible adjectives into adverbs by changing the ending to -ably/-ibly, e.g. comfortable → comfortably, possible → possibly, terrible → terribly - Determine whether to drop or retain the final -e of the root when adding -able, e.g. adorable (drop e) vs changeable (keep e before soft g) ## Lesson: Spelling -able and -ible -Able and -ible can sound alike. A complete base word can suggest -able. Learn these -able adjectives: enjoyable, comfortable, washable, readable and drinkable. Learn these -ible adjectives: visible, possible, audible, responsible and edible. Parts such as vis and aud do not stand alone as everyday English words, but can still carry meaning. *(drawing: A reading-corner sign needs enjoyable, visible, changeable, comfortably and flexible.)* Before -able, a final silent e often drops. Learn adorable, valuable and believable with this change. Keep e after soft c or g in changeable and noticeable. For a worked check, move loses its final e: mov + able = movable. Manage keeps its e: manage + able = manageable. Check the whole spelling when unsure. For adjectives ending in -ble, replace the final e with y to form the adverb. Keep the other letters. Agreeable becomes agreeably: agreeabl + y. Use the same method with comfortable, possible, terrible, horrible, reliable and flexible. Gentle also follows this e-to-y change. The complete-word check is only a clue. Flex is a complete word, but flexible takes -ible. If the part before an ending is not a complete word, that alone does not choose either spelling. Sociable uses -able even though soci does not stand alone as an everyday word. Learn these spellings and check a dictionary when unsure. Check the written ending as well as the sound. In a one-syllable base ending in a single vowel letter followed by a single consonant letter, usually double the final consonant before -able when the vowel is short. Do not double w, x or y. Hug has u followed by g, so hug becomes huggable. A vowel written with two letters does not meet this condition. To check a mixed spelling list, check -able or -ible, then check any adverb ending. Learn remarkable, acceptable and respectable with -able, and terrible and sensible with -ible. For an adverb made from one of these -ble adjectives, apply the e-to-y change. Compare every letter before counting the spellings that match. **Recap.** A complete base can suggest -able, but learn exceptions and common -ible words. Check base changes, and replace final e with y in the taught adverbs. ## Practice 24 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Suffixes (age 7+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/suffixes-age-7-mt_tHtjfjjFrl) ## Opens up - [Applying Spelling Rules to Complex Words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/applying-spelling-rules-to-complex-words-mt_4PA9IrxtCQ)