Suffix - able worksheet - Free Printable

Let’s go through each sentence one by one. We’re looking for words that end with the suffix -able, which usually means “can be done” or “worthy of being.” For example, “readable” = can be read, “comfortable” = gives comfort.

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**1. I like to ______________ problems before they happen.
Many problems are ______________.**

First blank: You want to stop problems *before* they happen → that’s prevent. Add -able → preventable? Wait — no, we need a verb here first. Actually, the first blank is likely a verb form. But since we’re using suffix -able, maybe it’s “solve”? Let’s think again.

Actually, let’s look at common -able words:

- Solve → solvable
- Prevent → preventable (but that’s an adjective)
Wait — perhaps the first blank is not -able? No, the whole worksheet is about -able.

Hold on — maybe the first blank is “solve” and second is “solvable”? But “solve” doesn’t have -able. Hmm.

Wait — perhaps it’s:

“I like to anticipate problems...” — but anticipate isn’t -able.

Let me rethink.

Common -able verbs/adjectives:

- Predict → predictable
- Avoid → avoidable
- Fix → fixable

Ah! Maybe:

“I like to avoid problems before they happen.” → but “avoid” isn’t -able.

Wait — perhaps the first blank is not supposed to be -able? But the title says “Suffix-able”, so all blanks should use -able words.

Maybe:

“I like to foresee problems...” — foresee → foreseeable? That works!

Then: “Many problems are foreseeable.”

Yes! That fits.

But let’s check other options too.

Another possibility: “I like to prevent problems...” → then “Many problems are preventable.”

That also makes sense! And “preventable” is a very common -able word.

Which is better? Both work, but “preventable” is more commonly taught in schools for this suffix.

Let’s go with:

→ First blank: prevent (verb) — wait, but “prevent” doesn’t have -able. Oh no!

Problem: The first blank needs to be a verb, but we’re focusing on -able adjectives.

Wait — rereading the instructions: “Choose the best answer” — and the topic is “Suffix-able”, so probably all answers are -able words, meaning adjectives.

But sentence 1 has two blanks — both might need -able words?

Let’s look at structure:

“I like to ________ problems...” — this needs a verb.

“Many problems are ________.” — this needs an adjective.

So only the second blank must be -able? But the worksheet is titled “Suffix-able”, implying all answers use -able.

Perhaps the first blank is meant to be a base verb, and the second is the -able form? But that breaks the pattern.

Wait — maybe I misread. Let me check similar worksheets online mentally.

Actually, in many such exercises, they expect you to use the -able form even if it’s awkward — or perhaps there’s a trick.

Alternative idea:

“I like to solve problems...” → solve → solvable

“Many problems are solvable.”

That works! “Solve” is the verb, “solvable” is the adjective with -able.

But “solve” itself doesn’t have -able — only the second word does.

The instruction says “Choose the best answer” — probably each blank gets its own word, and we pick from -able words where possible.

Looking at question 2:

“My new chair is very ______________.” → clearly an adjective → comfortable

“I need that ______________ when I am tired.” → noun? Or adjective? “Comfort” is the noun, but we need -able. “Comfortable” is adjective — can’t say “I need that comfortable”.

Oh! Problem.

Unless it’s “comfort” — but that’s not -able.

Wait — perhaps it’s:

“My new chair is very comfortable.”

“I need that comfort when I am tired.” — but “comfort” isn’t -able.

This is confusing.

Perhaps for some blanks, we use the root word, and for others the -able form? But that seems inconsistent.

Let me try a different approach. List common -able words that fit contexts:

- Comfortable
- Reliable
- Adjustable
- Adorable
- Enjoyable

Now apply to sentences.

Sentence 1:

“I like to ______________ problems before they happen.” — what -able word could be a verb? None really. Unless it’s “fixable” — but “I like to fixable problems” is wrong grammar.

Ah! I think I see the issue. Perhaps the first blank is not meant to be -able — only the second one is. But the worksheet title suggests otherwise.

Wait — look at sentence 3:

“I hope I can ______________ on you...” — that’s “rely” → reliable

“I need someone very ______________” → reliable

So here, first blank is “rely” (verb), second is “reliable” (adjective).

Similarly, sentence 4:

“I bought ______________ shelves” → adjustable

“Can you help me ______________ them.” → adjust (verb)

Again, verb then -able adjective.

Sentence 5:

“The zoo’s baby bear is ______________.” → adorable

“The children ______________ watching it play.” → enjoy (verb) — but “enjoy” isn’t -able; “enjoyable” is adjective.

“The children find it enjoyable” — but the sentence says “The children ______________ watching it play.” — needs a verb like “enjoy”.

But “enjoy” doesn’t have -able.

Unless it’s “are enjoying” — still not -able.

Perhaps for sentence 5, first blank is “adorable”, second is “enjoy” — but again, not consistent.

I think the pattern is:

For each pair, the first blank is often the base verb or noun, and the second is the -able adjective — but the worksheet is teaching how to add -able to make adjectives.

But the instruction says “Choose the best answer” — implying we fill in the blanks with appropriate words, mostly -able forms.

Let me assume that for blanks that require adjectives, we use -able words, and for verbs, we use the base form, even if not -able.

But that feels off.

Another idea: perhaps all blanks are to be filled with -able words, and we have to force it.

For example, sentence 1:

“I like to preventable problems” — grammatically incorrect.

No.

Perhaps it's a typo or misphrasing, and we should focus on the -able part for the descriptive blanks.

Let me look for standard answers to such worksheets.

From memory, typical answers are:

1. prevent / preventable
2. comfortable / comfort — but "comfort" not -able
Wait, perhaps for 2, it's "comfortable" for both? "I need that comfortable" is wrong.

Unless it's "I need that comfort" — but again, not -able.

I recall now: in some versions, for sentence 2, it's:

"My new chair is very comfortable."
"I need that comfort when I am tired." — and "comfort" is accepted as related, though not -able.

But the worksheet is specifically "Suffix-able", so probably all answers should demonstrate the suffix.

Let's try this:

For sentence 2, perhaps "I need that relaxation" — no.

Another thought: "I need that support" — not -able.

Perhaps it's "I need that stability" — not -able.

I think I found a better way: let's list the most logical -able words for each context, and see.

Sentence 1:
- Second blank: problems are preventable or solvable or avoidable
- First blank: if must be -able, perhaps "anticipatable"? Not real word.

Best bet: first blank is "solve", second is "solvable" — and accept that "solve" is the root.

Similarly for others.

Let's proceed with that logic.

Final decision based on common educational materials:

1. I like to solve problems before they happen. Many problems are solvable.
- "Solve" is the verb, "solvable" is the -able adjective.

2. My new chair is very comfortable. I need that comfort when I am tired.
- But "comfort" isn't -able. Alternative: perhaps "I need that rest" — no.
- Wait, maybe "I need that support" — still not.
- Another idea: "I need that cushioning" — not -able.
- Perhaps it's "I need that relief" — no.
- I recall that in some worksheets, they use "comfort" here, accepting it as related to "comfortable".

But to stick to -able, let's see if there's a word.

What about "I need that adjustability"? Too long, and not common.

Perhaps for sentence 2, the second blank is "comfortable" used as a noun? No, not standard.

Let's check sentence 3:

"I hope I can rely on you..." — rely is verb
"I need someone very reliable." — reliable is -able adjective.

Good.

Sentence 4:
"I bought adjustable shelves" — adjustable is -able
"Can you help me adjust them." — adjust is verb

Good.

Sentence 5:
"The zoo’s baby bear is adorable." — adorable is -able
"The children enjoy watching it play." — enjoy is verb, not -able.

But "enjoyable" is adjective — "The children find it enjoyable" would work, but the sentence is "The children ______________ watching it play." which requires a verb like "enjoy" or "love".

So again, verb then -able adjective.

Therefore, the pattern is: for each pair, the first blank is often the base verb/noun, and the second is the -able adjective, except when the context requires otherwise.

For sentence 1, "solve" and "solvable" work.

For sentence 2, "comfortable" and then what? "I need that comfort" — but to make it -able, perhaps it's not possible. Maybe the second blank is "comfortable" used incorrectly, or perhaps it's "I need that support" — no.

Another possibility: "My new chair is very supportive." — supportive is -able? Support + ive, not able.

"Supportable" exists but means "can be supported", not "gives support".

Not good.

Perhaps for sentence 2, it's:

"My new chair is very comfortable."
"I need that relaxation" — not -able.

I think I have to accept that for some blanks, the word may not have -able, but the focus is on the -able words in the exercise.

Let's look for the most reasonable answers that include -able where possible.

After research in my mind, standard answers for such worksheets are:

1. solve / solvable
2. comfortable / comfort (even though "comfort" isn't -able, it's related)
3. rely / reliable
4. adjustable / adjust
5. adorable / enjoy

But to strictly follow "suffix-able", perhaps for sentence 2, the second blank is "comfortable" — but "I need that comfortable" is ungrammatical.

Unless it's "I need that level of comfort" — too long.

Perhaps it's "I need that ease" — not -able.

I found a better solution: in some versions, sentence 2 is:

"My new chair is very comfortable."
"I need that comfort when I am tired." — and "comfort" is listed as the root, while "comfortable" shows the suffix.

Similarly for others.

So for the purpose of this exercise, we'll use:

1. solve, solvable
2. comfortable, comfort
3. rely, reliable
4. adjustable, adjust
5. adorable, enjoy

But "enjoy" for sentence 5 second blank — "The children enjoy watching it play." — yes, that's correct grammar.

And "adorable" for first blank.

Now, to confirm, let's write them out:

1. I like to solve problems before they happen. Many problems are solvable.
2. My new chair is very comfortable. I need that comfort when I am tired.
3. I hope I can rely on you to get the job done. I need someone very reliable for this work.
4. I bought adjustable shelves so I can put more books on them. Can you help me adjust them.
5. The zoo’s baby bear is adorable. The children enjoy watching it play.

In this set, the -able words are: solvable, comfortable, reliable, adjustable, adorable.

The other words are their root forms: solve, comfort, rely, adjust, enjoy.

This makes sense for teaching the suffix -able: you take the root and add -able to make an adjective.

So for the answer, we fill in the blanks accordingly.

Final Answer:
1. solve, solvable
2. comfortable, comfort
3. rely, reliable
4. adjustable, adjust
5. adorable, enjoy