Download English Spelling Rules: i before e, Silent E, Doubling Consonants, and y to i and more Schemes and Mind Maps English Language in PDF only on Docsity!
LEARN THIS: i before e except after c
when ie sounds like me
There is a long โ e โ sound in these words so โ i โ comes before โ e โ
belief niece achieve
There is a โ c โ before the long โ e โ sound in these words, so โ i โ comes after โ e โ
conceit receive ceiling
These words do not have a long โ e โ
height leisure their
EXCEPTIONS: Here are the exceptions to this rule:
seize caffeine protein counterfeit
People often make the mistake of putting โ el โ instead of โ le โ at the end of words:
REMEMBER: use โ le โ at the end of words (unless you want to hear the โ e โ sound)
Here are some examples of โ le โ words:
middle little kettle uncle bible example possible sensible horrible people candle responsible
Here are 9 of the most common spelling
patterns for you. Ask your teacher for
more help when you need it!
โieโ rule
โleโ endings
tt ll rr dd mm cc
The general rule is this:
If there is a short vowel before the t, l, r, d, m, or c sound in a word, double the consonant.
REMEMBER: a short vowel sounds like:
a (as inapple) e (as inelephant)
i (as inink) o (as inorange)
u (as inunder)
When words have:
You double the final consonant and add the suffix
(ending).
Doubling consonants
โThe Doublingโ rule
One
short vowel syllable final consonant
e.g. wet
has one short vowel has one syllable has one final consonant
wet wettest (or wetter) shop shopping (or shopped) slim slimmer (or slimmest) chat chatty sun sunny dip dipped
If a word has two syllables, and a vowel before the โlโ , double the โ l โ when adding
a vowel suffix:
Exceptions to the โlโ rule
There are a few exceptions to this rule, which you need to learn: e.g. legal legalise
Most words that begin with the sound of the letter โ x โ have โ exc โ at the beginning: DONโT FORGET THE C! excite, except, excellent, excess
Both โceโ and โseโ make an โsโ sound at the end of a word โ but โceโ is more usual: experience nonsense absence increase
Some words change from โ ce โ to โ se โ when they are used as a verb rather than a noun :
REMEMBER:
Ask yourself whether the word is describing an action (verb) or is naming something (noun)
The โlโ rule
โceโ and โseโ endings
can/cel cancelled ex/pel expelling tra/vel travelling
NOUN VERB Example practise Jane decided that she needed to practise her tables. practice The practice begins at six.
The โexcโ rule
