Common english rules, exceptions, plural forms

What is a homophone?

Words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings

^{(e.g., their/there/they're)}

What is a homograph?

Words spelled the same but with different meanings ^{(they may be pronounced differently or be different parts of speech; e.g., tear)}

What is the difference between aural and oral?

Aural means by the ear; oral means by the mouth

What is the "i before e" rule?

"I" before "e" except after "c" or when sounding like "a" (as in neighbor, weigh)

What is an example of "i before e"?

Believe, friend, hygiene

What is an example of "except after c"?

Ceiling, receive, conceit

What is an example of "ei" sounding like "a"?

Beige, rein, sleigh

What are exceptions to the "i before e" rule?

Codeine, leisure, caffeine, protein, height, neither, vein

What is the "drop the final e" rule?

Drop the final "e" before a suffix starting with a vowel; keep it before a suffix starting with a consonant

What is an example of dropping the final e?

Believe + able = believable; advise + ing = advising

What is an example of keeping the final e?

Nice + ly = nicely; amaze + ment = amazement

What are exceptions to the "drop the final e" rule?

Noticeable, argument, courageous

What is the "double the final consonant" rule?

Double it when a single vowel precedes it and the last syllable is stressed (e.g., prefer to preferred)

What is an example of doubling the final consonant?

Blurring, planner, beginning

What is an example of NOT doubling the final consonant?

Bleeding, plowed, despairing

What letters are never doubled?

W, X, and Y

What are words where both forms are correct?

Traveling/travelling, canceled/cancelled, modeled/modelled

What is the "change y to i" rule?

When "y" follows a consonant, change it to "i" before adding a suffix (beauty to beautiful)

When is "y" NOT changed to "i"?

When "y" follows a vowel (days, obeyed) or the suffix begins with "i" (crying)

What are exceptions to the "change y to i" rule?

Shyly, daily, memorize

What is the rule for regular plurals?

Add "s" (apples, nurses)

What is the plural rule for words ending in ch, s, sh, x, or z?

Add "es" (lunches, bosses, dashes)

What is the plural rule for some words ending in f or fe?

Change to "ves" (elf to elves, life to lives)

What are exceptions to the "ves" plural rule?

Chiefs, proofs

What is the difference between to, too, and two?

To: direction/preposition; too: also or excessively; two: the number 2

What is the difference between its and it's?

Its: possessive; it's: it is

What is the difference between lead and led?

Lead: to guide (present) or a metal; led: past tense of lead

What is the difference between bare and bear?

Bare: uncovered; bear: an animal or to carry/endure

What is the difference between their, there, and they're?

Their: possessive; there: a place; they're: they are

What are the meanings of "bow"?

To bend at the waist; front of a boat; a decoration; a weapon that shoots arrows

What are the meanings of "fair"?

Reasonable (adj); an appearance (n); an exhibition (n)

What are the meanings of "lead" as a homograph?

To show the way (v); a metal (n)

What are the meanings of "perfect"?

Flawless (adj); to make flawless (v)

What are the meanings of "tear"?

To rip something (v); water from the eye (n)