What is a suffix

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What is a suffix?

• A suffix is a word part that is added to the end
  of a word. Sometimes it changes the meaning of a
  word and its part of speech.
• A root is the main word part to which suffixes
  are added (for example, paint-ed)
• A vowel suffix begins with a vowel.

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ReviewAdd ed to a regular verb

• The most common spelling characteristic
• of the regular past tense of a verb is that
• -ed is added to the base form of the verb.
• The sound of -ed may be /d/ (opened) or /t/
  (knocked) or /ed/ (painted).

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Vowel Suffixes

• There are many suffixes that begin with a vowel.
  These are the suffixes that cause spelling
  difficulties. Suffixes beginning with a
  consonant are easyyou just add the suffix in
  most cases ?
• Here are some of the common vowel suffixes in
  this lesson -ing -er -est -y -en

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Vowel Suffixes

• When adding a vowel suffix to a root, usually
  write the suffix in full and then add the suffix
  in full. For example,
• warm er warmer curl y curly wood
  en wooden
• There are 3 major spelling rules which are
  exceptions to this generalization the doubling
  rule, drop the e rule, and the Y rule.

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The Doubling Rule

• If a root has one syllable, ends in one
  consonant, and has one vowel, double the
  consonant before adding a vowel suffix.
• (For example hop ed hopped

1 syllable word
1 short vowel
vowel suffix
1 consonant at end
double p
Never double a W, X, or Y
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The Doubling Rule

• If the suffix begins with a consonant, the final
  consonant of the base words is never doubled, as
  in sadness, sadly, fitness.

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The Doubling Rule

• When you hear a short vowel sound in the root, be
  ready to thinkshort vowels must be followed by 2
  consonants in words with suffixes.
• Sometimes you dont need to double the final
  consonant because there are already 2 consonants
  (planting, older, gladly)

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The Doubling Rule

• 1 syllable
• 1 vowel
• Ends in 1 consonant
• Adding a vowel suffix
• You must have all 4 above to double the final
  consonant
• (Example sad est saddest

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Always the Exceptions ?

• Do not double words containing the stem
• -fer (differ) or fit (misfit)
• Never double the rno matter what the suffix with
  words with double fs (suffer differ offer)

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Always the Exceptions 2 ?

• When you add ing to die, lie, or tie, their
  spelling changesmemorize them.
• die--dying---died
• lie---lying---lied
• tie---tying---tied

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Suffix Endings and their Meaning

• er, -or (noun) (also used to compare as in cold
  colder coldest)
• at the end of a word means one who
  __________ that which __________. fighter
  means one who fights actor means one who acts.
• -y hairy (adj)at the end of a word means having
  __________. hairy means having hair (a lot of
  hair) rainy means having rain.
• -en (verb)at the end of a word means to make
  __________. brighten means to make
  bright.soften means to make soft.

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The Doubling Rule
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Drop the e Rule

• When a root ends in a silent e, drop the e when
  adding a vowel suffix
• hope ing hoping

vowel suffix
drop the e
silent e
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Drop the e Rule

• When suffixes begin with a consonant the e is
  kept, as in safely, careless.
• When words end with a soft /c/ or /g/ sound, the
  e is not dropped as in noticeable, courageous.
• Sometimes the e is not dropped so that the word
  keeps its meaning as in singeing and mileage.

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Drop the e Rule

Memorize this nonsense sentence so you will
remember the 9 exceptions to dropping the e when
the suffix begins with a consonant. Truly the
ninth argument is wholly awful, but the judgment
and acknowledgment are duly accepted as truth. ?
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Drop the e Rule

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Consonant Suffixes

• This is a suffix that begins with a consonant
  letter. The following are common consonant
  suffixes -ly -ty -ful-ment -some -less
  -ness
• When adding a consonant suffix to a root, write
  the root in full and then add the suffix in full
  (safe ly safely).
• If the word ends in y preceded by a consonant,
  change the y to an i and add the ending
  (happiness)

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The Y Rule

• When the root ends in a consonant letter
• and y, change the y to i when adding a
• suffix. (example try ed tried)
• For words ending in y, keep the y when
• adding a suffix that begins with ing or -ish
  (example try ing trying)
• EXCEPTIONS words such as dryness and slyness

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Y Rule Exceptions ?

• Learn these exceptions
• shyly shynessdryly drynessslyly
  slynessspryly sprynesswryly wryness

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Y Rule Exceptions 2 ?

• Only 6 exceptions to the rule for not changing
  the y to i in the case of words ending with a y
  preceded by a vowel. Memorize them.
• pay---paidsay---saidlay---laidday---dailygay-
  --gailyslay---slain

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The Y Rule