ADDING SUFFIXES

Prefixes and suffixes are often added to words to modify their meaning. If adding a suffix to a word ending in ‘y’, remember that you may have to change the ‘y’ into an ‘ing’.

Don’t forget that you usually have to double the consonant at the end of a word before adding a suffix.

The ‘e’ at the end of a word usually has to be removed when adding a suffix.

CHECKING THE WORDS

Take care when dealing with homophones, words that sound the same but are spelt differently. Make sure you are using the correct form of the word. Refer toChapter 6 to refresh your memory. Don’t rely on a spell-check as this will not know which word you require. It will only highlight incorrect spelling.

Learn the list of words near the end of Chapter 6.

REVISING APOSTROPHES

Apostrophes are used to show that letters have been omitted.

They are also used to show possession and an ‘s’ is added.

• The apostrophe goes before the ‘s’ if the word showing possession is singular.

• The boy’s book.

• The apostrophe goes after the ‘s’ if the word showing possession is plural.

• The ladies’ cloakroom.

Plurals which do not add an ‘s’ are treated the same as singular nouns. An ‘s’ is added and the apostrophe is placed before it.

• The children’s coats
• The mice’s tails.

Possessive pronouns do not require an apostrophe:

Remember that ‘its’ possessive never has an apostrophe.

USING ABBREVIATIONS AND CONTRACTIONS

There is a full stop at the end of an abbreviation but not a contraction.

Many acronyms no longer require a full stop between the letters:

PRACTISING WHAT YOU’VE REVISED

Correct the following passage:

Sarah dressed carefuly. She knew she looked glamourous. It was a beautifull day when she court the train to london. She opend her handbag although it’s clasp was broken. She should of had it mended but she hadnt had time. Inside, she found a leaflet about the schools’ exibition. She was dissapointed she would miss it. Their was a seperate sheet containing the childrens’ comments. It was quiet humourous because the grammer was so bad and there was alot of mispelling.

The train was beggining to slow down. She hopped Dr. Jones, who was at the top of his proffesion, would see her immediatley she arrived. Taking out her dairy, she checked the time of her apointment which she had enterd as soon as she had recieved the letter.

She new she was early. When she apeared at the door, the secetary asked if she prefered tea or coffee and then left Sarah to read a book of poems which had no ryme or regular rythm. She put it down and stared at the decorative cieling persuing her own thoughts.