Name _____________________________________
Basic Spelling Rules
A. Spelling IE and EI: The i comes before the e, except when BOTH letters follow c or when both letters
are pronounced together as an a sound. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, and you
just have to memorize those words.
Believe (i before e)
receive (ei after c)
eight (a sound)
height (exception)
Practice. Write each word adding the missing vowel or vowels.
1. retr___ve
___________________
5. rel___ve
___________________
2. v___l
___________________
6. conc___ve ___________________
3. c____ling
___________________
7. gr___ve
4. perc___ve
___________________
___________________
B. Suffixes and Final Y: When a word ends in a consonant + y, change the y to i before adding a suffix.
When the word ends in a vowel + y, keep the y. If the suffix begins with an i, keep the y.
fly + es = flies
key + s = keys
fly + ing = flying
play + ing = playing
Practice. Use the “suffix and final y” rule to correctly write the words below.
8. reply + -es
____________________________
9. try + -ing
____________________________
C. Suffixes and Silent E: When adding a suffix that begins with a consonant to a word that ends in
silent e, keep the e.
achieve + ment = achievement
When adding a suffix that begins with a vowel or y to a word that ends in a silent e, drop the e.
give + ing = giving
When adding – ly to a word that ends in l plus silent e, drop the le.
possible + ly = possibly
When adding a suffix that begins with a or o to a word that ends in ce or ge, keep the e.
change + able = changeable
When adding a suffix that begins with a vowel to a word that ends in ee or oe, keep the e.
canoe + ing = canoeing
Practice. Use the “suffixes and silent e” rules to correctly write the words below.
10. state + -ment
_______________
14. amaze + -ment
_____________________
11. compete + -ing
_______________
15. noise + -y
_____________________
12. live + -ly
_______________
16. agree + -able
_____________________
13. manage + -able
_______________
17. quote + -ing
_____________________
D. Doubling the Final Consonant: Double the final consonant when a word ends in a single consonant
following one vowel if the word is one syllable. The same rule applies if the word has an accent on
the last syllable.
mop + -ing = mopping
compel + -ing = compelling
mad + -er = madder
Do NOT double the final consonant when the suffix begins with a consonant.
color + -ful = colorful
kind + -ness = kindness
bad + -ly = badly
Special case: When a word ends in ll and the suffix -ly is added, drop one l.
full + -ly = fully
dull + -ly = dully
Forming Compound Words: Just put the two words together, even if it means having two
consonants together! back + pack = backpack
book + keeper = bookkeeper
Practice. Write the newly formed word with a suffix or compound work in the blank.
18. jog + -ing
__________________
21. regret + -able
____________________
19. jack + knife
__________________
22. bold + -ness
____________________
20. shrill + -ly
__________________
23. zoo + keeper
____________________
E. General Rules for Forming Plurals. Most nouns form their plurals by adding –s. However, nouns
that end in ch, s, sh, x, or z form their plurals by adding -es. If the noun ends in a consonant
+y, change y to i and add-es. If the noun ends in lf, change the f to a v and add-es. If the noun ends
in fe, change the f to a v and add-s. desks
foxes
histories
selves
knives
Practice. Write the correct plural form of each word in the blank.
24. notch
_____________________
28. life
_____________________
25. buzz
_____________________
29. self
_____________________
26. box
_____________________
30. strawberry
_____________________
27. giraffe
_____________________
Name ______________________________________
Basic Spelling Rules Quiz
Circle the word that is spelled correctly.
1. Brittany, Emilee, and Grace will meet their (freinds, friends) at the movie tomorrow
night.
2. The horrible rainstorm (delayed, delaid) the football game Tuesday evening.
3. Matisen and Trinity are going (shoping, shopping) for new tennis shoes this weekend.
4. Lane laughed when Cole’s (fishook, fishhook) got caught on his jeans.
5. Cassidy was (totally, totaly) surprised to see her cat run up the oak tree.
6. Devon, Annsleigh, and Paigelynn were (couragous, courageous) and bold when they
ventured into the cave.
7. Joseph and Jonah said the concert was an (unforgettable, unforgetable) experience.
8. I’m sure Paris will (recieve, receive) many compliments on her new purple sweater.
9. Is your little brother as (nosei, nosy) as mine?
10. Alexa’s and Presley’s favorite part of the zoo is where the (monkies, monkeys) live.
11. Fireflies are (becomming, becoming) very active in the evenings now.
12. Jonathan insisted that the pizza be cut in (halves, halfs).
13. Maddie, Sarah, and Bailey took many (photos, photoes) at summer camp.
14. The weather has been extremely (changable, changeable) lately.
15. Gavin and Bailey are both very careful to avoid (mispellings, misspellings) in their short
answer responses.