Vocabulary Development - Junior Secondary 2 - Adjectives ending in -ible, -able, -uble

S/N

STEPS

TEACHER’S ACTIVITY

LEARNERS ACTIVITY

1

Week 9

The teacher revises the previous lesson and introduces the new topic by discussing the group of adjectives ending with -ible, -able and -uble and how they can be used

Adjectives ending in -ible, -able, and -uble are derived from Latin and generally describe something that can be done or has the potential to do something. These adjectives describe qualities or characteristics of a noun, often indicating capability or suitability.

1. Adjectives Ending in -ible:

• The suffix -ible is less common and typically appears in adjectives derived from Latin verbs. These adjectives often describe something that is "able to be" or "capable of being."
• Usage: Often, the root words of these adjectives are not standalone English words.
• Examples:
• Accessible (able to be accessed): The library is accessible to everyone.
• Visible (able to be seen): The stars are clearly visible tonight.
• Flexible (able to be bent): The material is flexible and easy to use.
• Edible (able to be eaten): These fruits are edible.

2. Adjectives Ending in -able:

• The suffix -able is much more common and is often used to form adjectives from verbs. It also describes something "capable of" or "fit for."
• Usage: These adjectives frequently describe actions or qualities that are easy to perceive or experience. The root word is often a verb, and the suffix forms an adjective describing the ability or capacity related to that verb.
• Examples:
• Comfortable (able to bring comfort): The chair is very comfortable.
• Readable (able to be read): The handwriting is neat and readable.
• Manageable (able to be managed): The workload is quite manageable.
• Dependable (able to be depended on): She's a very dependable friend.

3. Adjectives Ending in -uble:

• The -uble suffix is less frequently used and is related to words with the sense of "able to be" or "capable of being," though this group is relatively small compared to -able and -ible.
• Usage: It also comes from Latin roots, typically referring to actions or states that can occur.
• Examples:
• Soluble (able to be dissolved): Salt is soluble in water.
• Indissoluble (unable to be dissolved): Their bond is indissoluble.
• Refutable (able to be refuted): His argument is refutable with proper evidence.

Learners observe, learn and participate

2

Week 10

The teacher explains more usage guidelines for the adjectives ending with -able, -ible and -uble

Usage Guidelines for -ible vs. -able:

There isn't a strict rule governing when to use -ible vs. -able, but here are some tendencies:

• -able is more common when the root word is a complete English word (e.g., manage → manageable).
• -ible is typically used when the root word is derived from Latin and isn’t a standalone English word (e.g., credere → credible).

Examples in Sentences:

• The instruction manual is understandable (able to be understood).
• Her performance was incredible (too amazing to be believed).
• The contract is negotiable (able to be negotiated).
• Gold is insoluble (cannot be dissolved in water).

Learners observe, learn and participate

3

EVALUATION

The Learners are asked to

1.   Discuss how the adjectives ending in -able, -ible and -uble can be used

2.   Give five examples each of adjectives ending in -able, -ible and -uble

- Learners observe, learn and participate

4

CLASS-WORK

Learners are asked to answer the exercise on page 145 1-9 of the New Concept English for Junior Secondary School 2

Learners observe, learn and participate

5

ASSIGNMENT

Learners are asked to answer the exercise on page 145-146 1-10 of the New Concept English for Junior Secondary School 2

Learners participate

6

CONCLUSION

The teacher marks their books, corrects it and commends the Learners