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Unit 20: The soft c sound: ce ci cy words

Page 10 of 13

Unit 20: Soft c: ce, ci and cy words

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Page 10 of 13

Suffixes and the soft c sound

think back to spelling teaching Remember:
THE 'DROP E' RULES:

1. If you add a vowel suffix to a word that ends in e, you drop the e.
For example:

bake + ing = baking nerve + ous = nervous excite + able = excitable

2. If you add a consonant suffix, keep the e.
For example:

love + ly = lovely shame + ful = shameful close + ness = closeness

Teaching point - learning to spell There are special rules for adding suffixes to words ending in ce:

If a word ends in ce, the e is there to make c say /s/, not /k/:

place force service

The only letters that can make c say its soft sound /s / are e, i and y.

So, if you add a suffix that begins with e, i or y you CAN drop the e, because the suffix will make c say its soft sound /s/ :

place + ing = placing
force + ing = forcing
service + ing = servicing

But, if the suffix begins with a or o (or any consonant) keep the e.

place + ment = placement
force + ful = forceful
service + able = serviceable

Try this test of the suffix rules for -ce words.
Sometimes you can drop the e; sometimes you must keep it.
Ask yourself "Will c still make its soft sound /s/ ?"

Add the suffix to the root word

Type the answer

notice + ing
notice + able
price + ing
price + less
spice + y
pronounce + ed
pronounce + able
fierce + ly
fierce + est
replace + ment
replace + ing
replace + able


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

"This is a fantastic opportunity for our students!  I'm sure Spellzone will be invaluable in helping them to improve their spellings and therefore improve the quality of their writing in all subject areas!"

Teacher, High School, UK