The exceptions are: - Verbs that end in an –e, add –d
use → used, smoke → smoked, like → liked
- Verbs that end in –ee, keep the –ee
agree → agreed, free → freed
- Verbs that end in –ic change to –ick
picnic → picnicked, traffic → trafficked
- Verbs that end in a consonant+y, change to –ie
try → tried, fry → fried, reply → replied
- We double the last consonant if: - The verb has one syllable and ends in a vowel + consonant
slam → slammed, stop → stopped, →plan → planned except: play → played, show → showed
- The verb has two syllables and the second syllable is stressed
regret → regretted, admit → admitted but happen → happened
- The verbs end in a vowel+l
travel → travelled, equal → equalled
7. Possessive ‘s Most nouns simply add an ‘s to the noun.
Flat → flat’s, cat → cat’s
The Exceptions are: - Regular Plural nouns add only an ‘ (apostrophe) - Boys → boys’, cats → cats’, people → people’s - Singular proper nouns (names) ending in –s can add ‘s or ‘ - Jones → Jones’s or Jones’, The Smiths → The Smiths’s or The Smiths’ - Irregular plural nouns (not ending in –s) add ‘s - Men → men’s, children → children’s - Words like somebody, anybody, one, each other, add an ‘s - One → one’s, somebody → somebody’s 8. –ise or -ize Most words in British English can be spelt with both –ise and –ize. However, American English prefers –ize.
British: realise, organise, hypothesise American: realize, organize, hypothesize
Exceptions:
exercise, devise, improvise, surprise, advise, supervise, etc. Some words are spelt with –yse in British English and -yze in American English:
British: Analyse, paralyse American: analyse, paralyze
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