The Complicated World of Suffixes

Over the last week or so, Jackson and Katie had to learn some rules about adding suffixes to root words. Boy, I had no idea suffixes were so complicated. It's amazing how we just do it so naturally when we write.

Here's some of the rules they've had to learn:

1. If a one-syllable word with a short vowel ends with one consonant, double that consonant before adding a suffix: nap -- napped

2. If a word ends with a silent e, drop the e before adding a suffix beginning with a vowel: wave -- waving

3. If a short vowel word ends with two consonants just add the suffix beginning with a vowel: jump -- jumping

4. If a word has a long vowel sound just add the suffix beginning with a vowel: rain -- rained

5. To add a suffix beginning with a consonant, usually no change is needed. kind + ness -- kindness

6. If a word ends with a y next to a consonant, we usually change the y to i and add the suffix: try -- tried

7. Do not change the y when a vowel comes before it: play -- played

8. Do not change the y when adding the suffix ing: carry -- carrying

You know what's even crazier than having to remember all these rules? The fact that my children actually understand it. They'll even tell me the rule number as they're adding suffixes to words. Sometimes they really surprise me!