English·Spelling & Word Study·procedural
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
Suggested ages 9–10
Learning journey
Your child is tackling challenging spelling patterns — distinguishing between confusing word pairs, understanding Latin and French word endings, and mastering silent letters and complex suffixes.
Evidence of understanding
- Apply the guideline that -able is typically used with complete root words (enjoyable, comfortable) while -ible is used with incomplete roots (visible, possible), noting key exceptions
- 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)
Assessment prompt
When Spelling -able & -ible needs to spell a word ending in "-able" or "-ible" — like "comfortable" or "visible" — can they choose the right ending and spell it correctly?
Standards alignment
Eng_App1_Sp_Y56_04GB · uk-nc-2013
Words ending in –able and –ible
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 2
Eng_App1_Sp_Y56_05GB · uk-nc-2013
Words ending in –ably and –ibly
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 2