The suffix -ible or -able indicates which of the following?

The suffix -ible or -able indicates which of the following?

• A. Large in size.
• B. Without ability.
• C. Capable of being; able to be.
• D. Above average.

Answer: (C)

The suffix -ible or -able signals that something is capable of being or can be done. It turns a base into an adjective that describes possibility or ability, not size or a lack of ability. For example, portable means able to be carried, edible means able to be eaten, and visible means able to be seen. So the best fit is the meaning "Capable of being; able to be." The other ideas describe size, absence of ability, or an unrelated quality.

The suffix -ible or -able signals that something is capable of being or can be done. It turns a base into an adjective that describes possibility or ability, not size or a lack of ability. For example, portable means able to be carried, edible means able to be eaten, and visible means able to be seen. So the best fit is the meaning "Capable of being; able to be." The other ideas describe size, absence of ability, or an unrelated quality.