English Grammar Demystified - A Self Teaching Guide

CHAPTER 10 Techniques to Improve Spelling^235

ir- il- im- un-

1. possible


2. logical


3. replaceable


4. complicated


5. necessary

RULE 2: ADDING A SUFFIX THAT BEGINS WITH A CONSONANT

When you add a suffi x that begins with a consonant, the spelling of the root word
does not change (with few exceptions).

Word Suf fi x New Word
bare -ly barely
careful -ly carefully
careless -ness carelessness
economic -al economical

Exceptions

true -ly truly
due -ly duly

RULE 3: ADDING A SUFFIX THAT BEGINS WITH A VOWEL

When you add a suffi x that begins with a vowel to a word that ends in e, drop the e
before you add the suffi x.

Word Suf fi x New Word
continue -ous continuous
fame -ous famous

Exceptions

Words that end in ge or ce must keep the fi nal e to retain the soft sound of g or c.

Word Suf fi x New Word
notice able noticeable

Another exception is the word dye: dye  -ing  dyeing