Prefixes & Suffixes

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