Words in which the accent changes do not double the final consonant before adding a suffix beginning with a vowel; as,
confer conference infer inference refer reference prefer preferable
Explain why the final consonant is _not_ doubled in each of the following words:
neglect neglecting lean leaning prefer preference select selecting creep creeping receipt receipting wonder wondering answer answering
=Rule 6.--In forming the present participle of verbs ending in _y_, retain the _y_ before adding _ing_; as,=
study studying obey obeying carry carrying convey conveying pity pitying
In forming the perfect participle, if in the present tense the _y_ is preceded by a consonant, the _y_ is changed to _i_ and _ed_ added; if the _y_ is preceded by a vowel, the _y_ is retained; as,
=Rule 7.--In words containing a long _e_ sound spelled either _ie_ or _ei_, _ei_ follows _c_; _ie_ follows one of the other consonants; as,=
_ei_ _ie_ deceive relieve siege perceive believe yield receive belief grief conceive chief field conceit priest piece receipt niece wield reprieve lien
_Exceptions._--Either, neither, weird, seize, leisure.
The following couplet may help in remembering when to write _ie_ and when to write _ei_:
When the letter _c_ you spy, Put the _e_ before the _i_.
=Exercise 40--The Pronunciation of _c_ and _g_=
The letter _c_ is pronounced sometimes like _s_ and sometimes like _k_.
What sound does _c_ have before _a_? Illustrate.
If _c_ is pronounced like _k_, it is called hard and is marked _[\c]_.
If _c_ is pronounced like _s_, it is called soft and is marked _ç_. The mark used to indicate the soft _c_ is called the _cedilla_.
Make a statement telling when _c_ is hard and when it is soft.
What sound does _g_ have before each of the vowels, as in _game_, _gone_, _gymnasium_, _Gunther_, _gentle_?
=Rule 8.--_C_ and _g_ usually are soft before _e_, _i_, and _y_.=
Words ending in silent _e_, according to Rule 5, drop the _e_ before a suffix beginning with a vowel. Exceptions occur when the _e_ is needed to preserve the soft sound of _c_ and _g_. Tell why _e_ is dropped in _encouraging_ and retained in _courageous_.
In words containing _dg_, as in _judge_ and _lodge_, the _d_ gives the _g_ the soft sound, and there is no need to retain the _e_ before adding a suffix, as in _judgment_.