Spelling With Suffixes for Kids: Drop, Double or Change (Grade 3 English)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. A suffix is a word part added to the end of a base word, like ed, ing, er, ful or ness. Sometimes the base word changes spelling. Let's learn the rules!

Many words simply add the suffix. Help becomes helpful. Kind becomes kindness. Jump becomes jumped. There is no spelling change at all. Always check whether you can simply add the suffix first.

Rule one. If the base word ends in silent E and the suffix starts with a vowel, drop the E. Hope becomes hoping. Bake becomes baker. Care stays careful, because ful starts with a consonant.

Rule two. For short words with one vowel and one final consonant, double the consonant before a vowel suffix. Stop becomes stopped. Big becomes bigger. Shop becomes shopping.

Rule three. If a word ends in a consonant and then Y, change the Y to I before most suffixes. Happy becomes happiness. Cry becomes cried. But keep the Y before ing, so crying.

If a vowel comes before the Y, just add the suffix. Play becomes played. Enjoy becomes enjoyment. The vowel protects the Y, so it stays.

Now it's your turn. Add the suffix to each word. Make plus ing, and funny plus est. Pause and try. Make drops the E, so making. Funny changes Y to I, so funniest.

Great job! Remember, drop a silent E before a vowel suffix, double one final consonant after a short vowel, and change a consonant Y to I. Practice spelling with suffixes in the English Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!