1. Short Vowels
* The most common use is to show that a vowel before it is short.
* Examples:
* "Running" - The double "n" makes the "u" sound short (like the "u" in "sun").
* "Batten" - The double "t" makes the "a" sound short (like the "a" in "cat").
* "Ladder" - The double "d" makes the "a" sound short (like the "a" in "dad").
2. Adding Suffixes
* When adding certain suffixes, you might need to double a consonant to keep the pronunciation consistent.
* Examples:
* "Hop" + "ing" = "Hopping" (The "p" is doubled to maintain the short "o" sound).
* "Run" + "er" = "Runner" (The "n" is doubled to maintain the short "u" sound).
* "Begin" + "ing" = "Beginning" (The "n" is doubled to maintain the short "i" sound).
3. Adding a Suffix After a Silent E
* When adding a suffix to a word ending in a silent "e", you generally drop the "e" and double the final consonant.
* Examples:
* "Hope" + "ing" = "Hoping" (The "e" is dropped, and the "p" is doubled).
* "Ride" + "ing" = "Riding" (The "e" is dropped, and the "d" is doubled).
* "Note" + "ed" = "Noticed" (The "e" is dropped, and the "t" is doubled).
4. Adding a Suffix After a Single Consonant
* If a word ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, and you add a suffix that begins with a vowel, you may double the consonant.
* Examples:
* "Plan" + "ed" = "Planned" (The "n" is doubled because it is preceded by a single vowel and a single consonant, and "ed" begins with a vowel).
* "Hit" + "ing" = "Hitting" (The "t" is doubled for the same reason).
Important Note:
* Double Consonants vs. Double Letters Don't confuse a double consonant with two letters that represent a single sound, such as the "th" in "think" or "sh" in "ship". These are not double consonants, but letter combinations.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any specific questions about double consonants!