There is a big difference between able and ible. Able is an adjective that means capable of doing something. Ible, on the other hand, is a verb meaning “to be able” or “to have the ability to do something.” For example, “The box is able to hold five gallons of water.” versus “I am ible to pick up this box.” It can be confusing when trying to decide which word to use, but hopefully this article will help clear things up!
What is Able?
Able is a term that is used to describe someone who is capable of doing something. It is often used when referring to someone’s ability to do something physical, such as being able to lift a heavy object or being able to run fast. However, it can also be used to describe someone’s ability to do something mental, such as being able to solve a complex problem. Regardless of how it is used, the word “able” implies that the person in question has the skills or knowledge necessary to complete the task at hand.
What is Ible?
Ible is a suffix that is used to form adjectives that describe things that are able to be done. For example, the word “edible” describes something that can be eaten, and the word “wearable” describes something that can be worn. The suffix “ible” comes from the Latin word “habilis,” which means “fit or proper.” In English, the suffix “ible” is used to create words that describe things that can be done or are suitable for doing. For example, the word “possible” describes something that can be done, and the word “acceptable” describes something that is suitable for doing. While the suffix “ible” is not as common as some other suffixes, it is a useful tool for forming new words.
Difference between Able and Ible
The main difference between able and ible is that the suffix -able is added to words to form adjectives whereas the suffix -ible is added to words to form adjectives. For example, the word ‘respect’ becomes ‘respectable’ with the addition of -able whereas the word ‘suspect’ becomes ‘suspected’ with the addition of -ible. Although both suffixes can indicate that something can be done, -able often indicates that something can be done with ease whereas -ible often indicates that something can be done with effort. For instance, the word ‘wearable’ means that something can be worn easily whereas the word ‘readable’ means that something can be read with effort. Moreover, the spelling of words ending in -able or -ible often depends on the spelling of the base word.
Conclusion
Even though able and ible look very similar, they have different meanings. Be sure to use the correct word in order to avoid confusion. When in doubt, check a dictionary!
