Exercise 54—Peculiar Adjective Endings
The suffixes able and ible are sometimes troublesome because it is difficult to know which ending to write. As a rule, if the new word was made from another English word, the ending is able, as blamable. The words ending in ible are derived from the Latin, and, as a rule, the ending cannot easily be separated from the root and still leave the latter an English word. Examples are:
| divisible | intelligible | digestible | audible |
| visible | permissible | flexible | incredible |
| possible | terrible | horrible | indelible |
The suffixes ant and ent must also be carefully noted. No rule can be given for using one rather than the other. Whenever in doubt, consult a dictionary. Note the following:
| ant | ent |
| important | independent |
| pleasant | convalescent |
| triumphant | competent |
| luxuriant | convenient |
| stagnant | confident |
The endings eous and ious, where e and i are often confused, are illustrated in the following:
| eous | ious |
| hideous | delirious |
| miscellaneous | impious |
| courteous | studious |
The endings cious and tious are shown in the following:
| cious | tious |
| conscious | fictitious |
| precious | superstitious |
| delicious | cautious |
| gracious | ambitious |
| suspicious | nutritious |