Adding suffixes to multisyllable words: the stress-and-doubling rule
Year group: 3/4
Source: DfE, English Appendix 1: Spelling, National Curriculum for England (2013) — Years 3–4, Word endings
Curriculum requirement: Statutory
Purpose: Years 3–4 guide to doubling consonants in longer words before suffixes — the stressed-syllable rule with worked examples and practice.
The rule
In Year 2, children learned to double the final consonant of a one-syllable word before a vowel suffix (run → running, hop → hopped). In Years 3/4, this rule extends to words of more than one syllable — but with an important condition:
Double the consonant only if the stress falls on the final syllable.
begin → beginning (stress on -gin → double the n)
garden → gardening (stress on gar- → do NOT double the n)
The test: say the word aloud and tap the syllables. Which syllable gets the emphasis?
- be-GIN → stress on last syllable → double: beginning
- GAR-den → stress on first syllable → do not double: gardening
How to apply it
Step 1: Check that the base word ends in a single vowel + single consonant (the CVC pattern)
Step 2: Check that the suffix begins with a vowel (-ing, -ed, -er, -en)
Step 3: Say the base word. Where is the stress?
- Last syllable stressed → double
- Any other syllable stressed → do not double
Examples: double because stress is on final syllable
| Base word | Suffix | Result |
|---|---|---|
| begin | -ing | beginning |
| forget | -ing | forgetting |
| prefer | -ed | preferred |
| prefer | -ing | preferring |
| occur | -ed | occurred |
| occur | -ence | occurrence |
| refer | -ed | referred |
| refer | -ing | referring |
| commit | -ed | committed |
| commit | -ment | commitment (note: -ment starts with consonant — no doubling) |
| transmit | -ed | transmitted |
| permit | -ed | permitted |
| regret | -ed | regretted |
| patrol | -ing | patrolling |
Examples: do NOT double because stress is elsewhere
| Base word | Suffix | Result | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| garden | -ing | gardening | stress on GAR- |
| listen | -ing | listening | stress on LIS- |
| open | -ed | opened | stress on O- |
| offer | -ed | offered | stress on OF- |
| enter | -ing | entering | stress on EN- |
| limit | -ed | limited | stress on LIM- |
| visit | -ed | visited | stress on VIS- |
| profit | -ed | profited | stress on PROF- |
| travel | -ed | travelled (British English doubles l — see note) |
British English exception: the -l rule
In British English, words ending in -l after a single vowel always double the l before a vowel suffix, regardless of stress. This differs from American English.
| Word | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| travel | travelled, traveller | traveled, traveler |
| cancel | cancelled | canceled |
| quarrel | quarrelling | quarreling |
| signal | signalled | signaled |
This is a British English convention, not a stress rule. Teach it as a separate fact for words ending in -l.
The -fer pattern (preview of Y5/6)
Words ending in -fer show this rule very clearly:
| Word | Suffix | Stress stays on -fer? | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| refer | -ing | Yes (re-FER) | referring |
| refer | -ence | No (stress shifts: REF-er-ence) | reference (no double) |
| prefer | -ed | Yes (pre-FER) | preferred |
| prefer | -ence | No (stress shifts: PREF-er-ence) | preference (no double) |
This is taught fully at Y5/6 but can be introduced here with high-attaining pupils.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| begining | beginning | Stress on -gin: double the n |
| forgeting | forgetting | Stress on -get: double the t |
| gardenning | gardening | Stress on GAR-: no double |
| ocurred | occurred | Stress on -cur: double the r |
| refered | referred | Stress on -fer: double the r |
| travled | travelled | British English: always double l |
Word sort
Sort these words: double or no double?
Base words + suffix: begin+ing · garden+ing · forget+ing · open+ed · prefer+ed · limit+ed · occur+ed · visit+ing · commit+ed · enter+ing · refer+ed · travel+ed
| Double the consonant | Do not double |
|---|---|
Classroom questions
- Say begin aloud. Which syllable is stressed? What does that tell us about beginning?
- Say garden aloud. Which syllable is stressed? What does that tell us about gardening?
- Why does preferred have a double r but preference does not?
- In British English, travel becomes travelled. Why might this be an exception?
- Can you find three words in your reading book that end in -ing? Which ones doubled the consonant?
Links to other rules
- Y2: doubling rule for one-syllable words — the foundation this rule builds on
- Y5/6: -fer words — the clearest demonstration of stress-based doubling
Source: DfE English Appendix 1: Spelling (2013). All examples verified against standard British English usage and the statutory content for Years 3–4.