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
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• 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’
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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