 |
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 |
 |
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 |
Skip this exercise and go to the next part of this unit: Homophones for ce, ci and cy words. *
* Skip link not available for logged in students.
The Spellzone interactive course is intended to be used online and may not be printed.
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