Year 6 / P7
Unit
E
3
Words which end with -able and –ible
The -ible and -able endings often sound the same when we talk, so how can we tell which
words should end in -ible and which in -able?
There are a number of spelling rules which we can follow:
1. Use the -able ending if the root word is not changed at all. For example
comfortable, comfort (the root word) does not change, and able is added.
Comfort + able = comfortable BUT if you don’t have a whole root word use –ible.
For example, sense becomes sensible (the e is lost from the root word, ‘sens’ is
not a complete word).
2. If another related word ends in -ation, use the ending –able. For example,
consideration ends in -ation, so consider + able = considerable.
WANTED!
Sensible, responsible, dependable and professional babysitter needed to look
after two terrible monsters on a Thursday evening.
*
*
*
*
Boris is five years old and likes to bake cakes with unusual ingredients,
his favourite is bat and worm pie.
Bea is seven years old and likes to play tricks, her favourite trick is
turning invisible and hiding from people.
*
*
*
*
Applicants must be reliable and available at short notice. Previous
experience looking after monsters is preferable, as these lovable little
monsters can be quite a handful.
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Focus Words
F
sensible
terrible
preferable
responsible
invisible
loveable
dependable
available
professional
1. Draw a line to match each word to its meaning:
a. sensible
extremely bad
b. dependable
ready for use
c. invisible
can be relied on
d. available
uses good sense
e. terrible
unable to be seen
2. Write the meaning of these words. Use a dictionary to help you.
a. responsible ______________________________________________________________
b. loveable _________________________________________________________________
c. preferable _______________________________________________________________
d. professional ____________________________________________________________
3. Circle the correct spelling of each word
a. availible / available
d. sensible / sensable
b. dependable / dependible
e. terrable / terrible
c. responsable / responsible
f. lovible / loveable
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3. Put each word in the correct place in the table.
One has been done for you.
sense
avail
depend
terror
response
love
-ible
prefer
-able
dependable
5. Use each word in a sentence.
sensible
terrible
available
a. ______________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________________
6. Add the correct –able or –ible ending to each of these new words.
Remember the rules you have learned.
a. reverse = revers_____________
b. comfort = comfort____________
c. horror = horr____________
d. account = account____________
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7. Write your own advert using some of the words from your focus words.
Possible topics:

An advert for a job as an astronaut

An advert offering your services as a dog walker

An advert selling your old computer games
WANTED!
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
©Pearson Education Limited, 2017, http://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/
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