Learn on PengiElements of Language, 5th CourseChapter 15: Spelling: Improving Your Spelling

Lesson 2: Prefixes and Suffixes

In this Grade 8 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 5th Course, students learn the spelling rules for adding prefixes and suffixes to words, including when to keep or change a word's base spelling. Key rules covered include dropping the final silent e before vowel suffixes, changing y to i before certain suffixes, and leaving the original word unchanged when adding a prefix. Practice exercises reinforce each rule using examples like impossible, happiness, riding, and multiplying.

Section 1

Adding Prefixes

Definition

A prefix is a letter or a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.

Explanation

Think of a prefix as a building block you snap onto the front of a word. The best part is the main word's spelling stays exactly the same. It’s a simple addition with no changes needed for the original word, making it easy to create new meanings!

Examples

  • dis + approve = disapprove
  • un + certain = uncertain
  • re + write = rewrite [Adding the prefix re– does not change the spelling of write.]

Section 2

Adding Suffixes: -ness and -ly

Definition

A suffix is a letter or a group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning.

Explanation

When you add -ly or -ness, the base word's spelling usually doesn't change. But watch out for words ending in 'y'! If a word ends in 'y', you almost always need to change the y to an i before adding these suffixes. It's the one tricky part of this rule.

Examples

  • slow + ly = slowly
  • great + ness = greatness
  • lazy + ness = laziness [Lazy ends in y, so the y must change to i before –ness is added.]

Section 3

Suffixes and the Final Silent e

Definition

Drop the final silent e before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel. Keep the final silent e before adding a suffix that begins with a consonant.

Explanation

To handle a word's silent 'e', just look at the suffix. If the suffix starts with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), the silent 'e' drops out. If the suffix starts with a consonant, the 'e' bravely stays put to keep the original sound.

Examples

  • hope + ing = hoping [The suffix -ing begins with a vowel, so the final silent e is dropped.]
  • state + ment = statement [The suffix -ment begins with a consonant, so the final silent e is kept.]
  • excite + able = excitable [The suffix -able begins with a vowel, so the final silent e is dropped.]

Section 4

Suffixes and Words Ending in y

Definition

When a word ends in y and the y follows a consonant, change the y to i before adding any suffix that does not begin with i. When a word ends in y and the y follows a vowel, keep the y when adding a suffix.

Explanation

The letter before the 'y' is the key! If it's a consonant, you'll probably change the y to an i. The only exception is if the suffix starts with 'i' (like -ing). If a vowel comes before the 'y', then the 'y' almost always stays.

Examples

  • study + ed = studied [Study ends in y. The letter before y is the consonant d. The suffix does not begin with i. The y changes to i.]
  • carry + ing = carrying [The suffix -ing begins with i, so the y is kept.]
  • stay + ed = stayed [The y follows the vowel a, so the y is kept.]
  • joy + ful = joyful [The y follows the vowel o, so the y is kept.]

Section 5

Doubling the Final Consonant

Definition

Double the final consonant before a suffix that begins with a vowel if the word both (1) has only one syllable or has the accent on the last syllable and (2) ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel.

Explanation

Use the 1-1-1 rule to decide whether to double a consonant. Check for 1 syllable (or accent on the last syllable), 1 final consonant, and 1 vowel just before it. If a word passes all three tests and the suffix starts with a vowel, you double that final consonant.

Examples

  • plan + ed = planned [Plan has one syllable, ends in one consonant (n), and has one vowel before it (a).]
  • occur + ed = occurred [The accent is on the last syllable (oc-CUR), and it follows the 1-1-1 pattern.]
  • visit + ing = visiting [The accent is not on the last syllable (VIS-it), so you do not double the consonant.]

Section 6

Spelling with -cede, -ceed, and -sede

Definition

The only English word ending in –sede is supersede. The only English words ending in –ceed are exceed, proceed, and succeed. Most other words with this sound end in –cede.

Explanation

This is a memory trick! There is only one word ending in -sede: supersede. There are just three words ending in -ceed: exceed, proceed, and succeed. If it's not one of those four special words, the ending is almost always -cede. Memorize the short lists to master the rest!

Examples

  • The new rules will supersede all previous guidelines. [This is the only English word that ends in -sede.]
  • Please proceed to the checkout counter. [This is one of the three English words that end in -ceed.]
  • The team was sad to concede the game. [Most other words with this sound end in -cede.]

Book overview

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Chapter 15: Spelling: Improving Your Spelling

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Words with ie and ei

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  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Prefixes and Suffixes

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Plurals of Nouns

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Writing Numbers

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Words Often Confused A

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  6. Lesson 6

    Lesson 6: Words Often Confused B and C

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Adding Prefixes

Definition

A prefix is a letter or a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.

Explanation

Think of a prefix as a building block you snap onto the front of a word. The best part is the main word's spelling stays exactly the same. It’s a simple addition with no changes needed for the original word, making it easy to create new meanings!

Examples

  • dis + approve = disapprove
  • un + certain = uncertain
  • re + write = rewrite [Adding the prefix re– does not change the spelling of write.]

Section 2

Adding Suffixes: -ness and -ly

Definition

A suffix is a letter or a group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning.

Explanation

When you add -ly or -ness, the base word's spelling usually doesn't change. But watch out for words ending in 'y'! If a word ends in 'y', you almost always need to change the y to an i before adding these suffixes. It's the one tricky part of this rule.

Examples

  • slow + ly = slowly
  • great + ness = greatness
  • lazy + ness = laziness [Lazy ends in y, so the y must change to i before –ness is added.]

Section 3

Suffixes and the Final Silent e

Definition

Drop the final silent e before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel. Keep the final silent e before adding a suffix that begins with a consonant.

Explanation

To handle a word's silent 'e', just look at the suffix. If the suffix starts with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), the silent 'e' drops out. If the suffix starts with a consonant, the 'e' bravely stays put to keep the original sound.

Examples

  • hope + ing = hoping [The suffix -ing begins with a vowel, so the final silent e is dropped.]
  • state + ment = statement [The suffix -ment begins with a consonant, so the final silent e is kept.]
  • excite + able = excitable [The suffix -able begins with a vowel, so the final silent e is dropped.]

Section 4

Suffixes and Words Ending in y

Definition

When a word ends in y and the y follows a consonant, change the y to i before adding any suffix that does not begin with i. When a word ends in y and the y follows a vowel, keep the y when adding a suffix.

Explanation

The letter before the 'y' is the key! If it's a consonant, you'll probably change the y to an i. The only exception is if the suffix starts with 'i' (like -ing). If a vowel comes before the 'y', then the 'y' almost always stays.

Examples

  • study + ed = studied [Study ends in y. The letter before y is the consonant d. The suffix does not begin with i. The y changes to i.]
  • carry + ing = carrying [The suffix -ing begins with i, so the y is kept.]
  • stay + ed = stayed [The y follows the vowel a, so the y is kept.]
  • joy + ful = joyful [The y follows the vowel o, so the y is kept.]

Section 5

Doubling the Final Consonant

Definition

Double the final consonant before a suffix that begins with a vowel if the word both (1) has only one syllable or has the accent on the last syllable and (2) ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel.

Explanation

Use the 1-1-1 rule to decide whether to double a consonant. Check for 1 syllable (or accent on the last syllable), 1 final consonant, and 1 vowel just before it. If a word passes all three tests and the suffix starts with a vowel, you double that final consonant.

Examples

  • plan + ed = planned [Plan has one syllable, ends in one consonant (n), and has one vowel before it (a).]
  • occur + ed = occurred [The accent is on the last syllable (oc-CUR), and it follows the 1-1-1 pattern.]
  • visit + ing = visiting [The accent is not on the last syllable (VIS-it), so you do not double the consonant.]

Section 6

Spelling with -cede, -ceed, and -sede

Definition

The only English word ending in –sede is supersede. The only English words ending in –ceed are exceed, proceed, and succeed. Most other words with this sound end in –cede.

Explanation

This is a memory trick! There is only one word ending in -sede: supersede. There are just three words ending in -ceed: exceed, proceed, and succeed. If it's not one of those four special words, the ending is almost always -cede. Memorize the short lists to master the rest!

Examples

  • The new rules will supersede all previous guidelines. [This is the only English word that ends in -sede.]
  • Please proceed to the checkout counter. [This is one of the three English words that end in -ceed.]
  • The team was sad to concede the game. [Most other words with this sound end in -cede.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 15: Spelling: Improving Your Spelling

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Words with ie and ei

    LearnPractice
  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Prefixes and Suffixes

    LearnPractice
  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Plurals of Nouns

    LearnPractice
  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Writing Numbers

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Words Often Confused A

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  6. Lesson 6

    Lesson 6: Words Often Confused B and C

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