Proper rules for use of -able as a suffix

Question

Hi dudesI don't know if we should omit the letter 'e' from the end of verbs after appending an '-able' suffix to them. Sometimes I have seen that 'e' is not removed from the end of the verb, like:replace + able = replaceablechange + able = changeableand sometimes it's removed:achieve + able = achievablepractice + able = practicableDo you know what the rule is?

Delmobile · Accepted Answer

I'm afraid I don't know the formal rule, but judging from your examples, both "c" and "g" need the E to stay there to maintain the correct pronunciation. With an A behind them, they become "hard" and the words would be "chain-gah-ble." or "replay-kah-ble."

In the case of "practicable," you will note that the C has indeed become hard - I think this word may come to us via "practical" (useful, sensible) and not "practice."

Can a more knowledgeable (omg, I'm doing it without even trying) person help, please?

Philip · Answer

DelmobileI'm afraid I don't know the formal rule, but judging from your examples, both "c" and "g" need the E to stay there to maintain the correct pronunciation. With an A behind them, they become "hard" and the words would be "chain-gah-ble." or "replay-kah-ble."

In the case of "practicable," you will note that the C has indeed become hard - I think this word may come to us via "practical" (useful, sensible) and not "practice."

Can a more knowledgeable (omg, I'm doing it without even trying) person help, please?

I think your answer is at least 98% correct.

Anonymous · Answer

Here are some rules I've learnt.

1) If a word ends with a silent 'e', you do have to drop the "e".
Examples: rinse-->rinsable, memorize-->memorizable, love-->lovable

There is a couple of exceptions though:
- The final 'e' is kept in some words such as "dye": it becomes "dyeable".
- Also, the final 'e' is kept after soft 'c' or 'g' letter to keep the soft sound.
Examples: change-->changeable, rejoice-->rejoiceable, notice-->noticeable
- For the word "move", either spelling is possible: "movable" or "moveable"

2) If a word has more than one syllable, double the final consonant when a single vowel precedes the final consonant and the stress falls on the last syllable of the stem once the ending is added.
Examples: conceal-->concealable, and regret-->regrettable, but prefer-->preferable.

3) If a word ends with 'y', the rule is to drop the 'y' when the previous letter is a consonant, and to keep the 'y' when the previous letter is a vowel.
Examples: misery-->miserable, enjoy-->enjoyable

Proper rules for use of -able as a suffix

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