Doubling the Final Consonant
Have you ever noticed that sometimes a word doubles its final letter when you add a suffix like -ed or -ing, but other times it doesn’t? It’s not random—there’s actually a simple rule to help you figure out when to double that last letter. Let’s break it down!
Here’s the deal: if a word ends in a single consonant, and there’s a single vowel before that consonant, you usually double the consonant before adding a suffix. For example, “hop” becomes “hopping” or “hopped.” But why? It’s all about keeping the short vowel sound. Without doubling the letter, “hopping” would turn into “hoping,” which has a completely different meaning!
Now, here’s when you don’t double the letter:
- If the final consonant comes after two vowels (e.g., “float” ➔ “floated,” not “floatted”).
- If the word ends in more than one consonant (e.g., “start” ➔ “started”).
- If the word has an unstressed final syllable (e.g., “listen” ➔ “listening,” no doubling needed).
This rule mostly applies to short words or words where the last syllable is stressed. Think “begin” ➔ “beginning” (stressed), but not “garden” ➔ “gardening” (unstressed).
Why does this matter? Doubling consonants helps make your writing clear and avoids confusing meanings. Imagine mixing up “pinned” and “pined”—one means you attached something, the other means you missed someone deeply!
So, next time you’re writing and a suffix comes into play, remember to check if the final letter needs to double. It’s a small detail, but it makes a big difference in your spelling!
Try to find as many of the above prefix words in the short story below!
Emma’s Exciting Park Adventure
Emma decided to spend her Saturday exploring a nearby park. She was so excited that she couldn’t stop hopping as she waited for her friends. When they finally arrived, they stopped to plan the day and decided to start with a trail run. Everyone was running fast, except for her friend Max, who kept sitting on nearby rocks, pretending to be a sitter for passing wildlife.
After the run, they went to the lake for a swim. Emma was confident in her swimming skills, but her little brother Tom was still learning. “I’ll be your swimmer buddy,” she said, helping him feel comfortable while swimming. Tom admitted he had always been nervous about the water, but today he admitted it was fun.
As the day went on, something occurred that surprised everyone. They found a hidden cave by the lake! “This is amazing,” Max said, preferring to explore the cave rather than rest. Inside, they discovered old tools and equipment that looked like someone had once equipped it as a shelter.
Later, they relaxed in the park’s garden, where they spent time listening to birds and starting a picnic. Tom tried visiting every flower bed and offered to help Emma carry snacks. “Stop shouting so loudly, Tom!” Emma said, laughing. After they finished eating, the group spent time relaxing and planning to come back and repair the garden shed they’d noticed earlier.
By the end of the day, Emma was tired but happy. She couldn’t wait to share stories about their adventure with everyone back home.
How many prefix words did you find in Emma’s park adventure? Now that you are more familiar with the rules about doubling the final letter, it’s time to have a go at spelling some key ones from memory.
