Unit 4.1
-y + suffix
Introduction
When a word finishes in -y and a suffix is added, the letter y changes to i in some cases.
Form
Suffixes are small words or syllables which we add at the end of a word to form a new word, a new tense or to form comparatives and superlatives.
In this case, we deal with words ending in:
- vowel + y + suffix
- consonant + y + suffix
Example
- Y after a vowel:
- buy – buyer;
- pay – paying;
- play – player.
- Y after a consonant:
- beauty – beautiful;
- eighty – eightieth;
- lazy – laziness.
Use
- When we add a suffix (-ed, -ing, - er) to a word with a vowel followed by y at the end. In this case, the y stays unchanged.
- When we add a suffix (-ed, -er, - ful, -ly, -ness, - eth, -es) to a word with a consonant followed by y at the end, the y must change to i.
