Scenario |
Prefix/Suffix Rule |
Example |
Adding a prefix |
Don’t add or change the spelling of the word. |
un + comfortable = uncomfortable |
Adding a suffix to words ending in a silent ‘e’ |
When the suffix begins with a vowel, drop the ‘e’. |
like + ing = liking |
When the suffix begins with a consonant, keep the ‘e’. |
use + ful = useful |
|
When the word ends in ‘ce’ or ‘ge’, keep the ‘e’ when adding ‘able’ or ‘ous’. |
service + able = serviceable |
|
Adding a suffix to words ending in ‘y’ |
When there is a consonant before the ‘y’, change the ‘y’ to an ‘i’ before adding the suffix. |
beauty + ful = beautiful |
When the suffix starts with an ‘i’ keep the ‘y’. |
worry + ing = worrying |
|
When there is a vowel before the ‘y’, don’t change the ‘y’, just add the suffix. |
enjoy + ment = enjoyment |
|
Adding a suffix to words ending with a consonant |
If the word is one syllable long and ends in a consonant, with one vowel before it, double the last letter. |
drop + ed = dropped |
If the word is one syllable long and ends in a consonant, with two vowels before it, then you don’t double the last letter. |
feel + ing = feeling |
|
If the word is one syllable long and ends with two consonants in a row, do not double the last letter. |
wash + er = washer |