2022年12月24日 VOA慢速英语：能或不能

 

Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about how to use "-able" and "-ible" suffixes.
你好！本周在“问老师”中，我们将回答有关如何使用“-able”和“-ible”后缀的问题。
 
Question
题

Hello teacher!
你好老师！
 
I am Md. Abdur Rahman from Bangladesh. I am a student and have been learning English for a long time. To improve my listening and speaking skills every night I listen to the VOA English podcast. However, I am not good at English spelling mainly when I write sentences. I feel confused over suffixes like "-able" vs "-ible." How can I be an expert in English spelling?
我是来自孟加拉国的 Md. Abdur Ra​​hman。我是一名学生，已经学习英语很长时间了。为了提高我的听力和口语技能，我每晚都会收听美国之音英语播客。但是，我主要是在写句子的时候不擅长英文拼写。我对“-able”和“-ible”这样的后缀感到困惑。我怎样才能成为 英语拼写专家？
 
Please help me and share your valuable suggestions.
请帮助我并分享您的宝贵建议。
 
Sincerely yours,
您忠诚的，
 
Md. Abdur Rahman.
阿卜杜勒·拉赫曼博士。
 
Answer
回答
 
Thank you, Abdur Rahman for writing to us. English spelling is difficult even for native speakers. The English writing system is old, and it does not match up with how we pronounce things now.
谢谢阿卜杜勒·拉赫曼 (Abdur Ra​​hman) 给我们写信。即使对于以英语为母语的人来说，英语拼写也很困难。英语书写系统很旧，与我们现在的发音不符。
 
But there are "rules" and methods we can use that might help improve our spelling ability.
但是我们可以使用一些“规则”和方法来帮助提高我们的拼写能力。
 
We add the suffixes "-able" and "-ible" to the ends of words to create an adjective meaning "able to," for example, "fixable."
我们在单词的末尾添加后缀“-able”和“-ible”，以创建一个形容词，意思是“能够”，例如“可修复”。
 
I broke the coffee pot. Do you think it's fixable?
我打破了咖啡壶。你认为它可以修复吗？
 
We pronounce both endings with a "schwa." It is used in expressing unstressed central vowels, like in the word visible.
我们用“schwa”发音两个结尾。它用于表达非重读的中央元音，如在单词visible中。
 
If you drive out to the countryside, the stars are even more visible!
如果你开车去乡下，星星就更显眼了！
 
The ending "-able" is more common because it is considered a "living" suffix. This means that we can create new words with it.
结尾“-able”更常见，因为它被认为是“活的”后缀。这意味着我们可以用它创造新词。
 
We do not use the suffix "-ible" to make new words because it is used for Latin-based words. And there are no new Latin words, as it is now a dead language with no native speakers.
我们不使用后缀“-ible”来构成新词，因为它用于表示基于拉丁语的词。并且没有新的拉丁词，因为它现在是一种没有母语的死语言。
 
While there are always exceptions to spelling rules in English, we do have a few rules that can help us figure out which spelling to use.
虽然英语的拼写规则总是有例外，但我们确实有一些规则可以帮助我们确定要使用的拼写。
 
Let's start with "-able."
让我们从“-able”开始。
 
"-Able"
“-有能力的”
 
We add "-able" to full words, often dropping an "e" in the process.
我们将“-able”添加到完整的单词中，通常会在此过程中删除“e”。
 
Adorable is a good example. You start with the word "adore," which means to love or like very much. Now, we drop the "e" from "adore" and put "able" in its place
可爱就是一个很好的例子。你从“adore”这个词开始，意思是非常爱或非常喜欢。现在，我们把“adore”中的“e”去掉，用“able”代替
 
I saw the most adorable dog on my walk.
我在散步时看到了最可爱的狗。
 
In this sentence, adorable could be substituted with "cute."
在这句话中，adorable 可以用“ cute ”代替。
 
There are exceptions though, so watch out for words like "available" and "capable." If you take the suffix off, the roots of these words cannot stand alone.
不过也有例外，因此请注意“可用”和“有能力”等词。如果去掉后缀，这些词的词根就不能单独存在。
 
If a word ends in a /k/ or /g/ sound, use "-able," like the word "despicable."
如果单词以 /k/ 或 /g/ 发音结尾，请使用“-able”，就像单词“despicable”一样。
 
Their favorite movie is "Despicable Me."
他们最喜欢的电影是《神偷奶爸》。
 
Let's move onto "-ible."
让我们转到“-ible”。
 
"-Ible"
“-伊布尔”
 
Remember that the number of words with "-ible" will not change because there is a limited number of words from Latin that we use with the suffix. Since it is not a living suffix, we cannot add it to form new words.
请记住，带有“-ible”的单词数量不会改变，因为我们使用后缀的拉丁语单词数量有限。由于它不是活的后缀，我们不能添加它来形成新词。
 
Most -ible words cannot stand on their own. They need the suffix to be a word. For example, "possible."
最有说服力的词不能独立存在。他们需要后缀是一个词。例如，“可能”。
 
"Poss" is not a word. It needs the suffix "-ible" to be "possible."
“拥有”不是一个词。它需要后缀“-ible”才能表示“可能”。
 
But like the suffix "-able," there are exceptions to this rule.
但就像后缀“-able”一样，这条规则也有例外。
 
Like the word flexible. "Flex" can be a word on its own.
就像灵活这个词。“Flex”可以单独成为一个词。
 
Remember the spelling rules
记住拼写规则
 
For both suffixes you should remember general spelling rules.
对于这两个后缀，您应该记住一般的拼写规则。
 
One rule is especially notable.
一条规则尤其值得注意。
 
You should drop the "e" on the end of a word when adding a suffix beginning with a vowel.
添加以元音开头的后缀时，应将单词末尾的“e”去掉。
 
For example, "likable."
例如，“讨人喜欢”。
 
She was very likable in high school.
她在高中时非常讨人喜欢。
 
There is an exception to this rule.
这条规则有一个例外。
 
Do not drop the "e" when words end in "ce" or "ge." This has to do with the sounds /g/ or /s/. The letter "e" is needed to keep the consonant sound the same.
当单词以“ce”或“ge”结尾时，不要去掉“e”。这与 /g/ 或 /s/ 的发音有关。需要字母“e”来保持辅音相同。
 
For example: Danceable and Changeable
例如：可舞多变
 
Latin music is so danceable!
拉丁音乐太适合跳舞了！
 
The date is changeable for the tickets.
门票的日期可以更改。
 
Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you!
如果这些解释和示例对您有所帮助，请告诉我们！