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Unit 9: Adding suffixes: the spelling rules

Page 8 of 19

Unit 9: Suffixes: why we need to double letters, change them or drop 'e'

Unit StartCourse Test: Vowel and consonant suffixes. Spelling testPage 2: Vowel and consonant suffixes. Spelling testPage 3: Vowel and consonant suffixes. Spelling testCourse Test: The doubling rule, part 1. Spelling testPage 5: The doubling rule, part 1. Spelling testCourse Test: The doubling rule, part 2. Spelling testPage 7: The doubling rule, part 2. Spelling testCourse Test: The doubling rule, part 3. Spelling testPage 9: The doubling rule, part 3. Spelling testCourse Test: When to drop the letter e. Spelling testPage 11: When to drop the letter e. Spelling testCourse Test: The 'Change y' rule, part 1. Spelling testPage 13: The 'Change y' rule, part 1. Spelling testCourse Test: The 'Change y' rule, part 2. Spelling testPage 15: Rules and rule breakersCourse Test: Changing -f to -ves. Spelling testPage 17: Changing -f to -ves. Spelling testCourse Test: A final Spelling test on all the suffix rulesPage 19: A final Spelling test on all the suffix rulesUnit End

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The Spelling Rules for Adding Suffixes:

When to double a letter - and when not to double

Teaching point - learning to spell

If you are adding a vowel suffix to a root word that ends with two vowels and a consonant (VVC), you do not need to double the last consonant.

For example:


word lists word lists
sleep + ing = sleeping tread + ing = treading
word lists word lists


To make life just a little bit easier for you, you never have to double a w!

word lists word lists
showing fewest drawer
word lists word lists

For rules about adding suffixes to longer words, see Unit 34.

Now try these. Remember, sometimes you will need to double the consonant and sometimes you won’t.

Add the suffix to the root word.

Type the whole word:
plain + er
boat + ing
slip + ed
dream + er
creep + y
deaf + en
ship + ment
mix + ing
grab + ed
chill + y
limp + ing
grow + ing


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The Spellzone interactive course is intended to be used online and may not be printed.

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