The Intricacies of Spelling Rules for Suffix Addition

What do students need to understand about spelling rules when adding suffixes?

How can students apply these rules to ensure correct spelling in their writing?

Final answer:

The question pertains to spelling rules for suffix addition in the English language, focusing on cases where words end with a 'y' or a silent 'e'. Students are expected to apply these rules to form words with the correct spelling when suffixes are added.

Explanation:

The question involves the application of spelling rules when adding suffixes to words, particularly when words end with the letter 'y' or a silent 'e'. According to the rules provided, one must change the 'y' to 'i' if a consonant precedes it before adding a suffix (unless the suffix begins with 'i' as in 'ing'), and one must delete the final 'e' if the suffix begins with a vowel. Examples include changing 'deny' to 'deniable' (denying a consonant precedes the 'y'), 'injury' to 'injurious' (adding 'ous'), and 'gallery' to 'galleries' (changing 'y' to 'i' when pluralizing).

Applying these rules to form correct spellings with suffixes ensures clarity and accuracy in writing. Examples provided, such as 'foreignness', 'venerableness', and 'neighborliness', illustrate how suffixes are added to base words to form new words with related meanings. The process often involves modifying the base word according to the spelling rules for suffix addition, such as the Final (e) Deletion Rule and the (y)-to-(i) Rule.