Suffix –able SUFFIXES IN ENGLISH .1 Suffix –en

5.1.10 Suffix –able

a. Form • It is found that suffix –able can be attached to the base which is ended by vowel phoneme. e.g: change + -able Æ changeable marriage + -able Æ marriageable • It is found that suffix –able can be attached to the base which is ended with consonant phoneme. e.g.: accept + -able Æ acceptable suit + -able Æ suitable • It is found that suffix –able can be attached to the base which is ended with semivowel phoneme. e.g.: bear + -able Æ bearable • It is found that suffix –able can be attached to the base which is ended with diphthong phoneme. e.g.: enjoy + -able Æ enjoyable • It is found that suffix –able can not be attached to the base which is ended with cluster phoneme. From the data above, it can be seen that suffix –able can be attached to the base which is ended by vowel, consonant, semivowel, and diphthong phoneme. b. Distribution Suffix –able may be attached to the base as follows: • Noun e.g.: change n + -able Æ changeable adj Universitas Sumatera Utara • Verb e.g.: accept v + -able Æ acceptable adj From the data above, it can be seen that suffix –able can be attached to the base of verb and noun. The word ‘change’ is included in noun. If suffix –able is attached to it, it becomes ‘changeable’. Then, the word ‘accept’ is included in verb. If suffix –able is attached to it, it becomes ‘acceptable’. c. Function The function of suffix –able may be described as follows: • to form adjective from noun e.g.: marriage n + -able Æ marriageable adj • to form adjective from verb e.g. accept v + -able Æ acceptable adj From the data above, there are two functions of suffix –able. The word ‘marriage’ is included in noun; if suffix –able is attached to it, it becomes ‘marriageable’ that is included in adjective. While, the word ‘accept’ is included in verb; if suffix –able is attached to it, it becomes ‘acceptable’ that is included in adjective. d. Meaning The meaning of suffix -able is to say ‘it can be done’ from what is mentioned in the base form e.g.: enjoy + -able Æ enjoyable ‘can be enjoy’ accept + -able Æ acceptable ‘can be accepted’ Universitas Sumatera Utara From the data above, if the word ‘enjoy and ‘accept’ are attached by suffix – able, they become ‘enjoyable’ and ‘acceptable’ that indicate the meaning of ‘it can be done’ from what is mentioned in the base form. It is shown that ‘enjoyable indicates the meaning of ‘can be done’, while ‘acceptable indicates the meaning of ‘can be accepted’.

5.1.11 Suffix –al