SPELLING RULES FOR ADDING SUFFIXES

SPELLING RULES FOR ADDING SUFFIXES

This summary of complex rules involves many abbreviations. These include: V = vowel (a, e, i, o, u) C = consonant (other letters) syl = syllable -» = changes to

Description of root word        What to do        Example

Plural:        usually        add s        bottles, days

word ends in ch, sh, s, z, x, C+o        add es        couches, boxes, potatoes

word ends in C+y        y ->> i; add es        (fancy) fancies

word ends 'mforfe        f ->> v; add es or s        (leaf) leaves; (knife) knives

Possessives:        singular noun        add’s        (table) table’s (Gus) Gus’s

plural noun: s at end        add’        (tables) tables’

plural noun: no s at end        add’s        (men) men’s (irregular nouns)

Comparative:        1 syl        add er, est        (brief) briefer briefest;

1 syl, e at end        add r, st        (nice) nicer nicest

1 syl spelled CVC        double last C; add er, est        (big) bigger biggest

(don’t double C if word ends in y or w)                (slow, slower, slowest)

2 syl, ending in y        y ->> i; add er, est        (lovely) lovelier loveliest

other 2 or more syl words        use more, most        (solemn) more solemn, most solemn