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		Grammar and Linguistics > doubling the consonant rule?     
			
		 doubling the consonant rule? 
		
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 hema.chandra
 
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							| doubling the consonant rule? 
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							| hello friends .   I was doing action words with my ss.They are very clear @ the action words but they are confused as to when to double the consonant. for eg run becomes running when adding ing stop becomes stopping walk does not become walkking.................how do I explain them.do any of you have the explanation ws with few examples so that they r always  not confused & can do things on his own.Thanks in advance.   also if u have let �s talk series @ myself,my school,my family,my hobbies for the 4 years old ss.kindly sent me the link 4 the same. |  18 Nov 2010      
					
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 SueThom
 
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							| I �m sending you a PM about this. |  18 Nov 2010     
					
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 nombasa
 
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This is a general rule: When a one-syllable word ends in a vowel followed by a consonant, double the final consonant when adding a suffix.*Examples: topped, swimmer, hitting
 Work with them on tapping out syllables.  It is useful for a lot of reasons.  Teach them about vowel suffixes (ing, ed, or....) and consonant sufixes (ly, less, full....)   Other rules using sufixes are: Drop the final silent "e" when adding a suffix that begins with a vowel.*Examples: changing, notable, nervous
 Keep the final silent "e" when adding a suffix that begins with a consonant.*Examples: useful, lovely, hopeless
 Hope that it helps |  18 Nov 2010     
					
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 yolprica
 
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							| It �s difficult to explain it better. Yolanda |  18 Nov 2010     
					
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 magneto
 
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							| We only double the final consonant in two cases, basically: 
 1. In one-syllable words of the CVC (consonant - vowel - consonant) type, like run - running
 
 !!! We do not double the final consonant when there are two/ more consonants following the vowel: e.g. start - starting
 
 2. In longer words with a CVC ending when the final syllable is stressed. e.g. begin - beginning
 
 !!! We do not double the final consonant in longer words when the final syllable is not stressed. e.g. happen - happening
 
 There is also a rule that only applies to British English: We double the l  even if the final syllable is not stressed.
 e.g. British English: travel - travelling
 BUT American English: travel - traveling
 
 (See also: http://www.perfectyourenglish.com/vocabulary/spelling-doubling.htm)
 
 Hope I �ve helped
  
 Edit: P.S.: !!! Pay attention to the verb write. I�ve noticed that students often get confused by its past participle (written) and spell the - ing form writting. You need to point out to them that write does not end in a consonant, but in an e and should therefore form its -ing form as writing (see also Mombassa�s post above about verbs ending in -e). Make them pay attention to the fact that its past participle is irregular (ends in -en, instead of -ed) and that�s the only reason that it doesn�t follow the rule and is formed with a double t.
 
 
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 rakelica
 
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							| magneto; thanks for your explanation; very clear and useful!! |  18 Nov 2010     
					
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 magneto
 
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							| I �ve just added the following P.S. to my previous answer. You might find that useful, too: 
 Edit: P.S.: !!! Pay attention to the verb write. I�ve noticed that students often get confused by its past participle (written) and spell the - ing form writting. You need to point out to them that write does not end in a consonant, but in an e and should therefore form its -ing form as writing (see also Mombassa�s post above about verbs ending in -e). Make them pay attention to the fact that its past participle is irregular (ends in -en, instead of -ed) and that�s the only reason that it doesn�t follow the rule and is formed with a double t.
 
 
 |  18 Nov 2010     
					
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