-able
əbəl
-able puts a small door on a thing
The picture A small door is fitted to the thing; push it with your hand and it swings open and lets that in. -able is the side that can take it in; -ive is the side that goes out and does it.
Where the picture shows up in -able
-
a door that opens to water
Is this jacket washable?
ɪz ðɪs ˈdʒækɪt ˈwɑːʃəbəl
Can this jacket go in the water?
Machine water pushes into the cloth and the cloth takes it without falling apart.
wash + -able.
-
a door your wallet can't push open
The rent here is not affordable for us.
ðə rent hɪr ɪz nɑːt əˈfɔːrdəbəl fɔːr ʌs
The rent here is too much for us.
A thin wallet is pressed against the door and the door does not move an inch.
not + afford + -able.
-
a door that follows your hand
The chair is adjustable.
ðə tʃer ɪz əˈdʒʌstəbəl
You can change the height of this chair.
You push the chair back upward and it clicks along with your hand.
adjust + -able.
-
a person's door standing open
Is the manager available now?
ɪz ðə ˈmænɪdʒər əˈveɪləbəl naʊ
Can the manager see me right now?
The office door is half open and a head lifts from the desk inside.
-
a door your body opens to
The tap water here is drinkable.
ðə tæp ˈwɔːtər hɪr ɪz ˈdrɪŋkəbəl
You can drink the tap water here.
You drink straight from the tap and your stomach stays perfectly fine.
drink + -able.
All of it in one picture
-able is one small door fitted to a thing. Push water at it and the door opens — washable. Push your thin wallet at it and it won't budge — not affordable. Push the back of a chair and it follows your hand: adjustable. The door on a person's side is open right now: available. Put your mouth to it and your body takes it: drinkable. So with any -able word, just ask what you push at the door to make it open.