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Rules for Doubling a Final Consonant
Pattern 2: When stress falls on the second syllable of a two-syllable word ending with a single vowel and a single consonant, double the final consonant to add -ed, -ing, or a suffix beginning with a vowel..
EXAMPLES, EXCEPTIONS AND SECONDARY SPELLINGS
(Read the notes for the hperlinked words.)
reFER Other forms for this word follow pattern 2 consistently. referred referring referral TRANSferOther forms for this word do not follow pattern 2 consistently. Also note that a secondary pronunciation is transFER. The word derives from the latin transferre. transferred transferring transferable & transferal CANcelBecause stress falls on the first syllable, preferred spellings are canceled and canceling. The secondary spellings are cancelled and cancelling. canceled canceling cancellation adMITOther forms for this word follow pattern 2 consistently. admitted admitting admittance / admission
PRACTICE ACTIVITY: Read the sentences below. Write the form of the word in parentheses that is required for correct sentence grammar and meaning. Be careful. There are a few words that have first syllable stress. For these words, do not double the final consonant. (Open the dictionary if needed. Click the back arrow to return to this page.)
1. (occur) The accident on Highway 101.
2. (defer) College loans are until students finish their education.
3. (defer) The President is always treated with great when he visits other countries.
4. (visit) Jason his grandparents last weekend.
5. (commit) Henry is in prison for a serious crime.
6. (happen) There's a lot of noise outside. What's ?
7. (admit / permit) Franklin taking his father's car without his .
8. (control) Most teenagers feel that their parents are too .
9. (begin) The championship game is just .
10. (sadden) News of his brother's death deeply Michael.
11. (confer) Mr. Lemon is with his lawyer about his divorce.
12. (deter) The addition of several new police officers crime on the east side last year.
13. (deter) Those who advocate the death penalty for murder believe it is a combination of punishment and .
14. (focus) Paul is more on his studies this semester.
15. (cancel) Classes were due to the blizzard.
16. (forget) I'm worried about Grandmother. She keeps my name.
17. (transfer) Abdul has to another class.
18. (transfer) This loan is not to a third party.
19. (submit) Nancy her paper on time and got an A in the course.
20. (refer) Jane asked her doctor for a to a dermatologist.