Three rules help you add suffixes. Rule 1: in short words with a short vowel and one final consonant, double the consonant before a vowel suffix: stop, stopping, stopped.
Rule 2: drop a silent e before a vowel suffix: write, writing; share, shared. Keep the e before a consonant suffix: hope, hopeful.
Rule 3: change a final consonant + y to i before most suffixes: carry, carried; happy, happiness. Keep the y before -ing: carrying.
Worked example
Add -ed to “copy” and -ing to “copy”.
- Copy ends in consonant + y.
- Before -ed, change y to i: copied. Before -ing, keep the y: copying.
Answer:copied, copying
Key words
- vowel suffix
- a suffix that starts with a vowel, like -ing
- silent e
- an e at the end that is not sounded
- double
- write the consonant twice
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: L.3.2e, L.3.2f