Words that Drop the Final -e
Have you ever wondered why words like “hope” turn into “hoping” instead of “hopeing”? It’s because of a handy spelling rule called dropping the final -e. Don’t worry—it’s simpler than it sounds and makes your writing look polished and professional.
Here’s how it works: When you add a suffix (a word-ending) that starts with a vowel, like -ing, -ed, -able, or -er, you usually drop the silent -e at the end of the root word. For example, “love” becomes “loving,” and “make” becomes “making.” Without this change, we’d have awkward-looking spellings like “loveing” or “makeing.”
But, like all good spelling rules, there are exceptions! If the suffix starts with a consonant (like -ful or -ment), you keep the final -e. That’s why “care” becomes “careful” and “move” becomes “movement.” Easy, right?
Here’s another twist: Some words keep the -e to preserve their pronunciation. For instance, “change” becomes “changeable” because dropping the -e would make it “changable,” which doesn’t sound right. Similarly, “notice” becomes “noticeable” for the same reason.
This rule helps keep English words clear, tidy, and easy to read. Once you’ve mastered it, you’ll spell words like “hiking,” “smiling,” and “exciting” without a second thought.
So, next time you see a word ending in -e, take a second to think: Am I adding a vowel-starting suffix? If so, drop the -e. If not, keep it. Easy-peasy—and no one will accuse you of “misplaceing” your spelling skills ever again!
Try to find as many of the above prefix words in the short story below!
Ezekiel’s Exciting Treehouse Project
Ezekiel had always dreamed of building a treehouse, so when his dad said they could start, he couldn’t stop smiling. They began by making a plan and carefully writing down the materials they needed. Ezekiel spent a lot of time deciding how to design it, hoping it would be big enough for all his friends to enjoy.
First, they started arranging the planks and tools under the big oak tree in their garden. Ezekiel’s dad reminded him to be careful with the saw as they worked. “We’re creating something special here,” his dad said, encouraging Ezekiel to take his time.
The next step was to build the floor. Ezekiel’s younger brother came along, giving them an extra hand by holding the planks steady. While working, Ezekiel noticed how the branches were strong yet changeable enough to adapt to their design. It was a noticeable improvement over the simple tree swing they’d had before.
By the afternoon, Ezekiel and his dad were moving around the tree, hammering and securing the walls. “This is such an exciting project,” Ezekiel said, as he climbed up to help attach the roof. He loved how they were saving wood scraps to make decorations later.
At one point, Ezekiel’s brother challenged him to a game, racing to see who could climb to the top of the ladder faster. “Slow down!” their dad shouted, laughing. By the evening, the treehouse was almost complete. They decided to leave some of the finer details for the next day, knowing they’d be living in this amazing new space soon.
As Ezekiel stood back, writing the name “Ezekiel’s Fort” on a wooden sign, he felt proud. Their hard work had paid off, and the treehouse was already filled with hope for future adventures.
How many of the final -e words did you find in Ezekiel ‘s treehouse story? Now that you are more familiar with the rules about about when to keep and when to drop the final -e, it’s time to have a go at spelling some of these words from memory.
