Spelling
it Right

suffix 3
Focus Words

enforceable

noticeable

serviceable

courageous

outrageous

manageable

changeable

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    Adding suffixes to words ending -ce and -ge

    In the previous worksheet we learned the following pattern
    for silent e words:

      When adding a consonant suffix: keep the silent e
      When adding a vowel suffix: drop the silent e

    So: blame+less = blameless     but blame+ing = blaming

    This pattern works most of the time.
    That's why I prefer to call it a pattern rather than a rule.

    But there are a few exceptions. Here's the main one:

    Where the base word ends in -ce or -ge, then
    you keep the silent e before -able and -ous.        So:

    enforce + able =   enforceable
    notice + able =   noticeable
    service + able =   serviceable
    courage + ous =   courageous
    outrage + ous =   outrageous

    Now memorize the focus words and test yourself on them.

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    Roger Smith