Adding a suffix to words ending in l

(Please note that this pattern doesn't fully apply in US English. If you're American you write traveled, rivaling, signaled and canceled.)

With these words you need to notice whether there is
one vowel or two vowels immediately before the l.
Look for a pattern in the following examples:
Words ending one vowel + l Words ending two vowels + l
travel + ed = travelled reveal + ed = revealed
rival + ing = rivalling school + ing = schooling
control + ed = controlled fail + ed = failed
fulfil + ing = fulfilling boil + ing = boiling
parcel + ed = parcelled wheel + ed = wheeled

The patterns are fairly obvious aren't they?

Test your understanding of them by crossing out the wrong spellings in each of the following sentences.

1. Biff labeled/labelled the packages, threw them on the trolley, and wheeled/wheelled them out of the room.

2. The watchman patroled/patrolled at hourly intervals.

3. The referee sent off the striker for fouling/foulling the goalkeeper.

4. Marianne's fees for the modeling/modelling course totaled/totalled more than a month's salary.

5. A loud bang signaled/signalled the start of the sailing/sailling race.

6. Sammy controled/controlled the speed of the haulage/haullage rope using a red lever.
Click here for the answers
Then memorize the focus words
Click here for the answers
Then memorize the focus words

USA Spelling Books
UK Spelling Books

USA Spelling Books
UK Spelling Books

<--- Click the appropriate link on the left for my list of recommended spelling books available from Amazon. Roger.

<--- Click the appropriate link on the left for my list of recommended spelling books available from Amazon. Roger.

Spelling it Right

Roger Smith
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Focus Words

coiled

healing

overhauled

excelled

cancelled

prevailing

traveller

concealed

rebelling

patrolling