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Doubling the final consonant, or not?
Many words (verbs, adjectives) some of which are very short, are ending with a consonant.
Their problem: should I double the consonant? or not?
1) When an ending must be added
-ed [ past and past participle],
-ing [the -ing aspect],
-er [ comparatives, superlatives, forming a noun: the person who acts!]
to a one-syllable-word, ending with a single consonant preceded by a single consonant the final consonant is doubled.
- fat: fatter - sit: sitting - stop: stopped
- run: a runner - run: running - pop: popping
2) If the word is ending with two vowels or two consonants, the final isn't doubled;
- want: wanting
If the final consonant is followed by a vowel, the final won't be doubled.
- hope: hoping - write: writing
3) In two-syllable words (or more), the final consonant is doubled only if the word is stressed on this last syllable. Let's compare:
- be'gin: begi'nning - 'visit: 'visiting
- re'fer: refe'rred - 'wonder: 'wondered
: 'worshipped, 'kidnapped, and 'handicapped double the final consonant,
and are therefore exceptions.
4) BE CAREFUL! :pgb When the letter L is preceded by a single vowel, it's always doubled [In British English] even if the last syllable isn't stressed.
- Com'pel: com'pelling
- Travel: 'traveller [ but :pus traveler]
Therefore, let's count the syllables, let's look for the word stress and the answer will be very easy to find out.
Try, and you'll see that it isn't difficult! Go for the test!
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