Spelling - Eliminating 'e': Activity 3

Sort the examples into two groups

DROP 'E'
KEEP 'E'
hoe + -ing → hoeing
shoe + -ing → shoeing
canoe + -ing → canoeing
agree + -ing → agreeing
agree + -able → agreeable
see + -ing → seeing

Answers

  • KEEP 'E' GROUP: hoe + -ing → hoeing, shoe + -ing → shoeing, canoe + -ing → canoeing, agree + -ing → agreeing, agree + -able → agreeable, see + -ing → seeing

They are KEEP 'E' examples, even though each suffix starts with a vowel. Why? What is happening in these examples?

  • Each base word ends in ee or oe.
  • The final e is kept to preserve these sequences of two vowel letters. Otherwise we would get misleading sequences, as in seing or hoing.

Usually, though, the e is dropped when the base word ends in ue, e.g. arguing, rescuing.

Welcome!

Englicious is totally free for everyone to use!

But in exchange, we ask that you register for an account on our site.

If you’ve already registered, you can log in straight away.

Since this is your first visit today, you can see this page by clicking the button below.

CLOSE

Englicious (C) Survey of English Usage, UCL, 2012-21 | Supported by the AHRC and EPSRC. | Privacy | Cookies