Spelling Patterns

If you want to write about something that happened in the past, which word correctly adds the `-ed` suffix to `plan`?

• planed

• plannned

• planned

• planede

Answer explanation

The word 'plan' has a short vowel followed by a single consonant (CVC pattern), so you must double the final consonant before adding a suffix that starts with a vowel, like -ed.

Sort these nouns into two groups based on how their plural form is made: 'Change y to i and add -es' or 'Just add -s'.

Groups:

(a) Change y to i and add -es

,

(b) Just add -s

• key

• day

• family

• party

• story

• boy

Answer explanation

Words ending in a consonant followed by 'y' (like 'story') change the 'y' to 'i' and add '-es'. Words ending in a vowel followed by 'y' (like 'key') just add '-s'.

The instructions say to keep writing until the timer goes off. What is the base word of writing?

• writ

• writeing

• write

• writting

Answer explanation

The word 'writing' comes from the base word 'write'. According to the silent 'e' rule, you drop the 'e' before adding a suffix that starts with a vowel, like -ing.

Match each base word to the suffix that can be added to form a noun.

• -or

• sad

• -ment

• create

• -ness

• appoint

• -ion

• act

Answer explanation

Each suffix changes the base word into a noun. The suffix '-or' is added to the verb 'act' to form 'actor'. The suffix '-ion' is added to 'create' to form 'creation'. The suffix '-ment' is added to 'appoint' to form 'appointment'. The suffix '-ness' is added to the adjective 'sad' to form 'sadness'.

Which of the following words uses the consonant-vowel-consonant-silent 'e' (CVCe) pattern to create a long vowel sound?

• mat

• mad

• made

• man

Answer explanation

The word 'made' follows the CVCe pattern (m-a-d-e). The silent 'e' at the end makes the 'a' have a long vowel sound. The other words have short vowel sounds.

Which word correctly shows how to add the prefix 'in-' (meaning 'not') to the base word 'possible'?

• inpossible

• impossible

• unpossible

• impossiblee

Answer explanation

The prefix 'in-' often changes its spelling to match the first letter of the base word, a process called assimilation. When added to a base word that starts with 'p' or 'm', the prefix becomes 'im-'. Therefore, 'in-' + 'possible' is spelled 'impossible'.

When adding '-ing', some words double their last letter and some drop a silent 'e'. Sort these base words by which rule they follow. Categories: 'Double the Consonant' or 'Drop the Silent e'.

Groups:

(a) Double the Consonant

,

(b) Drop the Silent e

• get

• smile

• make

• hop

• use

• run

Answer explanation

Words with a short vowel and one final consonant (like 'run') double the consonant. Words ending in a silent 'e' (like 'make') drop the 'e' before adding -ing.

Which word is spelled with the '-ight' pattern?

• fite

• frieght

• fight

• fiet

Answer explanation

The word 'fight' uses the common '-ight' spelling pattern, which is also found in words like 'right', 'light', and 'night'. The other options are spelled incorrectly.

Match each singular noun to its correct plural form.

• children

• city

• wolves

• wolf

• cities

• child

• toys

• toy

Answer explanation

These words follow different pluralization rules. 'wolf' changes 'f' to 'ves' to become 'wolves'. 'child' is an irregular plural, becoming 'children'. 'city' changes 'y' to 'ies' to become 'cities'. 'toy', which ends in a vowel + y, just adds 's' to become 'toys'.

My dog was wagging his tail. Which option shows the correct spelling of the base word and the rule used?

• wage, drop the e

• wag, double the g

• wagg, add ing

• waig, change i to a

Answer explanation

The base word is 'wag'. It has a short vowel followed by a single consonant, so the 'g' is doubled to 'wagging' to keep the short 'a' sound.