EXPECTANCIESEXPECTANCIES

HOW WORDS CAN BE HOW WORDS CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE SPELLEDEXPECTED TO BE SPELLED

EXPECTANCIES

• Expectancies tell us how we can EXPECT a word to be spelled. These are not RULES since they are not 100% dependable, but they’ll give a person a definite advantage in predicting how a word is spelled because they work most of the time.

-CK EXPECTANCY: -CK EXPECTANCY: WORDS THAT END WORDS THAT END

WITH THE /K/ WITH THE /K/ SOUNDSOUND

ONE syllable words with ONE syllable words with ONE ONE SHORTSHORT vowel sound that end vowel sound that end with the /k/ sound are spelled with the /k/ sound are spelled

with a -with a -ckck at the end. at the end.

-CK-CK EXAMPLES EXAMPLES• BackBack• PackPack• RackRack• ShackShack• KnackKnack• DeckDeck• BeckBeck• Neck Neck • CheckCheck• WreckWreck• PeckPeck• KickKick

• Lick Lick • StickStick• ThickThick• ChickChick• LockLock• KnockKnock• RockRock• BlockBlock• BuckBuck• TuckTuck• TruckTruck• StruckStruck

-TCH EXPECTANCY:-TCH EXPECTANCY:W0RDS THAT END WITH W0RDS THAT END WITH

THE /CH/ SOUNDTHE /CH/ SOUND

ONE syllable words with ONE syllable words with ONE ONE SHORTSHORT vowel sound that end with vowel sound that end with the /ch/ sound are spelled with –the /ch/ sound are spelled with –

tchtch at the end. at the end.

-TCH-TCH EXAMPLES EXAMPLES

DitchDitch HitchHitch PitchPitch SnitchSnitch StitchStitch SwitchSwitch TwitchTwitch BlotchBlotch SplotchSplotch DutchDutch CrutchCrutch ClutchClutch

BatchBatch CatchCatch HatchHatch LatchLatch MatchMatch PatchPatch ThatchThatch ScratchScratch FetchFetch RetchRetch StretchStretch

-DGE EXPECTANCY:-DGE EXPECTANCY:WORDS THAT END WITH WORDS THAT END WITH

THE /J/ SOUNDTHE /J/ SOUND

ONE syllable words with ONE syllable words with ONE SHORTONE SHORT vowel sound that end with the /j/ sound vowel sound that end with the /j/ sound

are spelled with –are spelled with –dgedge at the end. at the end.Note: The silent e can’t jump over two Note: The silent e can’t jump over two letters to make the vowel sound long!letters to make the vowel sound long!

--DGEDGE EXAMPLES EXAMPLES

BadgeBadge EdgeEdge HedgeHedge LedgeLedge Wedge Wedge PledgePledge DredgeDredge RidgeRidge BridgeBridge

DodgeDodge LodgeLodge BudgeBudge FudgeFudge JudgeJudge NudgeNudge GrudgeGrudge SludgeSludge SmudgeSmudge TrudgeTrudge

SOFT C (/S/) AND SOFT C (/S/) AND SOFT G(/J/) SOFT G(/J/)

EXPECTANCIESEXPECTANCIESIf an If an II, , EE, or , or YY follows a follows a CC or a or a GG, it , it

makes them have the makes them have the SOFTSOFT sound. The soft sound for C is /S/. sound. The soft sound for C is /S/.

The SOFT sound for G is /J/.The SOFT sound for G is /J/.

SOFT C(/S/) AND SOFT G(/J/)SOFT C(/S/) AND SOFT G(/J/)EXAMPLES EXAMPLES

CellCell CentCent CityCity CycleCycle DanceDance PrancePrance RaceRace CenterCenter CertainCertain CiderCider PlacePlace CycloneCyclone CymbalCymbal

GemGem GermGerm GymGym GenerousGenerous GentleGentle PagePage WageWage GiantGiant GingerGinger GiraffeGiraffe GenuineGenuine GeographyGeography GeometryGeometry

LLITTLE ITTLE FFISH ISH SSWIM WIM ZZIG IG ZZAGSAGS

ONE syllable words with ONE short ONE syllable words with ONE short vowel that END with vowel that END with LL, , FF, , SS, or , or ZZ usually usually have the have the LL, , FF, , SS, or , or ZZ DOUBLEDDOUBLED..Get it? Get it? LLittle ittle FFish ish SSwim wim ZZig ig ZZagsags

LLittle ittle FFish ish SSwim wim ZZig ig ZZags ags ExamplesExamples

BallBall CallCall MallMall HallHall TallTall FallFall SquallSquall BellBell CellCell FellFell YellYell SmellSmell SpellSpell BillBill FillFill

HillHill SkillSkill DollDoll StrollStroll BullBull PullPull SkullSkull StaffStaff TiffTiff CliffCliff StiffStiff SniffSniff OffOff BuffBuff HuffHuff BluffBluff

More Examples of More Examples of LLittle ittle FFish ish SSwim wim ZZig ig ZZagsags

BassBass LassLass MassMass PassPass BrassBrass ClassClass GrassGrass LessLess MessMess ChessChess DressDress PressPress GuessGuess HissHiss KissKiss

MissMiss BossBoss LossLoss TossToss CrossCross FlossFloss FussFuss PussPuss JazzJazz FizzFizz FrizzFrizz BuzzBuzz FuzzFuzz

Some Some OUTLAW WordsOUTLAW Words to the to the LLittle ittle FFish ish SSwim wim ZZig ig ZZags ags ExpectancyExpectancy

BusBus and and gasgas are exceptions to are exceptions to LLittle ittle FFish ish SSwim wim ZZig ig ZZags because they are short ags because they are short words for gasoline and omnibus.words for gasoline and omnibus.

Function words such as Function words such as is, was, his, of, is, was, his, of, if,if, and and asas are exceptions to are exceptions to LLittle ittle FFish ish SSwim wim ZZig ig ZZags.ags.

PluralsPlurals

Plural words are words that Plural words are words that mean mean MOREMORE than one. than one.

Rules for Plural WordsRules for Plural Words

Add Add SS to make most to make most nouns plural.nouns plural.

Girls, computers,Girls, computers, Desks, kids, chairs,Desks, kids, chairs, Coats, cars, trucks, Coats, cars, trucks, Stairs, halls, papers,Stairs, halls, papers, Towels, books, tapes,Towels, books, tapes, CDs, pens, pencils,CDs, pens, pencils, Dogs, goats, testsDogs, goats, tests

Add Add ESES to words that to words that end in end in s, sh, ch, s, sh, ch, oror x. x.

Classes, passes, kisses,Classes, passes, kisses, Wishes, pushes, dishes,Wishes, pushes, dishes, Inches, patches, Inches, patches,

churches,churches, Boxes, foxes, sixesBoxes, foxes, sixes (You can HEAR the (You can HEAR the EE

sound before the sound before the SS. It . It sounds like sounds like /ez//ez/.).)

The The YY Rule for Plurals Rule for Plurals

If a word ends If a word ends with a with a consonantconsonant before the before the YY, , Change the Change the YY to to an an i i and add and add e se s..

Cities, ladies, Cities, ladies, babies, ponies, babies, ponies, cries, pennies, cries, pennies, kitties, abilities, kitties, abilities, capacities, capacities, fantasies, bodiesfantasies, bodies

If a word ends If a word ends with a with a vowelvowel before the before the YY,,

DON’TDON’T change the change the Y, just add Y, just add SS. .

Monkeys, plays, Monkeys, plays, boys, toys, trays, boys, toys, trays, essays, turkeysessays, turkeys

Doubling Rule

When adding an -ed or and –ing to a ONE syllable word with ONE SHORT vowel that ends with ONE consonant, DOUBLE that last letter.

Note: this way the e in the –ed can’t jump over the last 2 letters to make the vowel sound long (say its name).

Examples

• Hop = hopped• Gab = gabbed• Tag = tagged• Stop = stopped• Nap = napped• Rip = ripped• Lug = lugged• Plug = plugged • Bug = bugged• Jog = jogged• Tap = tapped• Trot = trotted

• Hop = hopping• Gab = gabbing• Tag = tagging• Stop = stopping• Nap = napping• Rip = ripping• Lug = lugging• Plug = plugging• Bug = bugging• Jog = jogging• Tap = tapping• Trot = trotting

Drop the Silent E Drop the Silent E RuleRuleIn a One Syllable word with a LONG In a One Syllable word with a LONG vowel sound and a SILENT E at the end, vowel sound and a SILENT E at the end, DROP the silent E before adding –ed or DROP the silent E before adding –ed or ––ing!ing!

Examples of the Drop the Examples of the Drop the Silent E RuleSilent E Rule

Hope + -ing = hopingHope + -ing = hoping Name + -ing = namingName + -ing = naming Bike + -ing = bikingBike + -ing = biking Poke + -ing = pokingPoke + -ing = poking Rake + -ing = rakingRake + -ing = raking Rule + -ing = rulingRule + -ing = ruling Close + -ing = closingClose + -ing = closing Vote + -ing = votingVote + -ing = voting Tube + -ing + tubingTube + -ing + tubing Time + -ing = timingTime + -ing = timing Tape + -ing = tapingTape + -ing = taping Size + -ing = sizingSize + -ing = sizing

Hope + -ed = hopedHope + -ed = hoped Name + -ed = namedName + -ed = named Bike + -ed = bikedBike + -ed = biked Poke + -ed = pokedPoke + -ed = poked Rake + -ed = rakedRake + -ed = raked Rule + -ed = ruledRule + -ed = ruled Close + -ed = closedClose + -ed = closed Vote + -ed = votedVote + -ed = voted Tube + -ed = tubedTube + -ed = tubed Time + -ed = timedTime + -ed = timed Tape + -ed = tapedTape + -ed = taped Size + -ed = sizedSize + -ed = sized

ContractionsContractions are two are two words that have been words that have been

forced together to make forced together to make a smaller word.a smaller word.

Use an apostrophe Use an apostrophe ((‘‘)) to to show where the missing letter show where the missing letter

is missing.is missing.

Examples of ContractionsExamples of Contractions Can not = can’tCan not = can’t Are not = aren’tAre not = aren’t Could not = couldn’tCould not = couldn’t Would not = wouldn’tWould not = wouldn’t Should not = shouldn’tShould not = shouldn’t Did not = didn’tDid not = didn’t Had not = hadn’tHad not = hadn’t Has not = hasn’tHas not = hasn’t Have not = haven't Have not = haven't He is = he’sHe is = he’s She will = she’llShe will = she’ll

I will = I’llI will = I’ll I am = I’mI am = I’m Is not = isn’tIs not = isn’t Would have = would’veWould have = would’ve Should have = Should have =

should’veshould’ve I have = I’veI have = I’ve You are = you’reYou are = you’re They are = they’reThey are = they’re Will not = won’tWill not = won’t Were not = weren’tWere not = weren’t Who is = who’sWho is = who’s

Suffixes are word parts added to Suffixes are word parts added to the END of a word to change its the END of a word to change its

meaning.meaning.• If a base word ends with an E and the suffix

begins with a VOWEL, drop the E before adding the suffix.

• Examples: Love + -able = lovable

Complete + -ing = completing

Describe + -ing = describing

Imagine + -able = imaginable

Excuse + -able = excusable

Surprise + -ing = surprising