Lesson 40: A Rule for Spelling (The 1-1-1 Doubling Rule)

WHEELER'S ELEMENTARY SPELLER PRIMARY PHONICS CURRICULUM • LESSON 40 STUDENT WORKSHEET

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PHONICS & SPELLING RULES TO REMEMBER: THE 1-1-1 DOUBLING RULE

1. The 1-1-1 Principle: In a word of 1 syllable with 1 short vowel followed by 1 final consonant, double the final consonant before adding a suffix starting with a vowel (-ing, -ed, -y).
2. Why Double? Consonant doubling keeps the preceding vowel short and closed (run·ning /ˈrʌn.ɪŋ/). Without doubling, *runing would sound like long u (/ruː/ or /juː/).

• Formula: Base (1 Short Vowel + 1 Consonant) + Vowel Suffix → Double Final Letter

• run + -ing → run·ning | plan + -ing → plan·ning
• rag + -ed → rag·ged | rub + -ed → rub·bed
• sun + -y → sun·ny | fun + -y → fun·ny

EXERCISE 1 Write these words neatly from dictation. Observe how the final consonant doubles before vowel suffixes:

GROUP 1 • SHORT U & I BASE → SUFFIX

run → running

plan → planning

sit → (add -ing below)

put → (add -ing below)

GROUP 2 • SHORT A, U & I BASE → SUFFIX

rag → ragged

bat → (add -ed below)

rub → rubbed

sin → (add -ed below)

GROUP 3 • SHORT U & E BASE → SUFFIX

sun → sunny

fun → (add -y below)

let → (add -ing below)

set → (add -ing below)

EXERCISE 2 Answer the following questions about consonant doubling in the study words:

1. How many n's in run? In running?

In run:

In running:

2. How many n's in sun? In sunny?

In sun:

In sunny:

3. What is added to plan to make planning?

4. What is added to rub to make rubbed?

5. What is added to fun to make funny?

EXERCISE 3 & 4 Word Building with Vowel Suffixes (-ing and -ed): Apply the 1-1-1 Doubling Rule:

2. Add -ing to sit, put, let, and set:

sit + -ing =

put + -ing =

let + -ing =

set + -ing =

3. Add -ed to bat and sin:

bat + -ed =

sin + -ed =

fun + -y =

sun + -y =