English Language Arts
Grade 3
15 min
Determine the meaning of a word with -able or -ment
Determine the meaning of a word with -able or -ment
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define the suffix -able as meaning 'can be' or 'able to be'.
Define the suffix -ment as meaning 'the act of' or 'the result of an action'.
Identify the base word in a word ending with -able or -ment.
Combine a base word with the suffix -able or -ment to create a new word.
Determine the meaning of a word with the suffix -able or -ment by using the meaning of the base word and the suffix.
Use a word ending in -able or -ment correctly in a sentence.
Have you ever seen a long word and thought it was unbreakable? 🤔 Let's learn a secret trick to figure it out!
In this lesson, we'll become word detectives! We will learn about two special word endings, called suffixes: -able and -ment. Knowing these suffixes wil...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
SuffixA word part added to the end of a word to change its meaning.In the word 'playing,' the suffix is '-ing'.
Base WordThe main part of a word that has its own meaning. A suffix is added to it.In the word 'comfortable,' the base word is 'comfort'.
Suffix -ableA suffix that means 'can be' or 'able to be.' It often turns a word into an adjective (a describing word).'lovable' means 'able to be loved'.
Suffix -mentA suffix that means 'the act of' or 'the result of an action.' It often turns a word into a noun (a thing).'payment' means 'the act of paying'.
AdjectiveA word that describes a noun (a person, place, or thing).The *happy* dog. 'Happy�...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The -able Rule
Base Word + -able = 'able to be' [Base Word]
When you see -able at the end of a word, it usually means something *can be* done. For example, if a toy is breakable, it means it *can be* broken.
The -ment Rule
Base Word + -ment = 'the act of' [Base Word]ing or 'the result of' [Base Word]ing
When you see -ment at the end of a word, it's usually a thing that comes from an action. For example, an argument is the result of arguing.
The Drop 'e' Spelling Rule
For base words ending in a silent 'e', drop the 'e' before adding -able.
For a base word like 'use', you drop the 'e' to make 'usable'. For a word like 'move', you drop the 'e' to make '...
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Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
A student is writing about a speech: "The president's speech led to an ______ among the leaders." Which word best fits the sentence to mean 'the act of agreeing'?
A.agreeable
B.agree
C.agreement
D.agreed-upon
Challenging
Read the sentences:
1. The new rules were not 'agreeable' to everyone.
2. The class reached an 'agreement' on the new rules.
How do the suffixes change the meaning of the root word 'agree'?
A.'-able' means it can't be done, and '-ment' means it can be done.
B.'-able' describes a quality (can be agreed to), while '-ment' is the result of an action (the deal itself).
C.Both suffixes turn the word into a person who agrees.
D.There is no difference in meaning between agreeable and agreement.
Challenging
A good speech should have 'believable' arguments. An 'argument' is a reason given to persuade others. What does this sentence mean?
A.The speech should have reasons that are easy to argue with.
B.The speech should have reasons that are able to be believed by the audience.
C.The speech should have reasons that are the result of believing.
D.The speech should have arguments that are not true.
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