Spelling - Eliminating 'e': Activity 4

Sort the examples into two groups

Answers

• KEEP 'E' GROUP: notice + -able → noticeable, manage + -able → manageable, change + -able → changeable, service + -able → serviceable, advantage + -ous → advantageous, courage + -ous → courageous

Do these examples fit the patterns identified in Activities 1 and 2? 

• No. The suffix starts in a vowel but we keep the e at the end of the base word.

Why do these examples behave differently? Do you notice any pattern?

• Each base word ends in a -ge or -ce. Each suffix starts with o or a.
• We need to keep the -e at the end to mark the correct pronunciation of the g or c.
• The e marks a ‘soft g’ pronunciation, as in gem , instead of a ‘hard g’ as in go.
• The e marks a ‘soft c’ pronunciation, as in centre , instead of a ‘hard c’ as in cat.