Double the final letter … or not? Hopping? Hoping? Feeling? Felling? Brought to you by V. Hinkle

Double the final letter … or not? It’s no mystery. There is a rule. And it works!

First you need to know: Which letters are vowels? Which letters are vowels? a, e, i, o, u a, e, i, o, u You pronounce them with your mouth open You pronounce them with your mouth open Which letters are consonants? Which letters are consonants? All the rest: b, c, d, and so on All the rest: b, c, d, and so on You pronounce them with your mouth closed You pronounce them with your mouth closed

Rule #1 When a one-syllable word ends in a single vowel single consonant followed by a single consonant, double double the consonant before adding a suffix.

Examples hop hop whip whipping whipped Single vowel Single consonant hopping hopping hopped hopped

Rule #2 The same rule holds true The same rule holds true for multi-syllable words, for multi-syllable words, but only if but only if the final syllable is accented. the final syllable is accented.

Examples begin begin beginning beginning beginner beginner control controlling controlled controller

Rule #3 However, if there are two vowels However, if there are two vowels before the final consonant, before the final consonant, Leave the consonant as it is. Leave the consonant as it is.

Examples seat seat seated seated seating seating Look Looked Looking

Rule #4 Of course, Of course, if a word ends if a word ends in two consonants, in two consonants, leave them as they are. leave them as they are. help help helping helping helped helped

Quiz Time

hop + ing hopping

scar + ed scarred

submit + ing submitting

steam + ing steaming

feel + ing feeling

fool + ed fooled

sleep + ing sleeping

form + ation Formation Two consonants, Leave them alone

shop + ing shopping

The List hophophophop hopping seat seating whipwhippedsteamsteamed scarscarredleapleaping stopstoppingstoopstooped shopshoppingloomlooming sitsittingseemseemed cutcutterroofroofer beginbeginnerfoolfooled controlcontrollerfeelfeeling submitsubmittedstealstealing

Now you know it all A E I O U B C D F G H J K L M N P Q R S T V W X Y Z