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Adding the suffixes to words ending in 'fer'

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When you add a suffix to a word ending in 'fer' you sometimes need to double the 'r', but how do you know when?

When you add a suffixes and the second syllable of the new word is stressed, then you need to double the 'r'.

For example, adding the suffix -ed to the word 'prefer':

prefer + -ed 鈫 preferred

However, if the 'fer' is no longer stressed once you've added the suffix, then leave it as a single 'r'.

For example, adding the suffix -able to the word 'prefer'.

prefer + -able 鈫 preferable

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Watch: Adding suffixes to 'prefer'

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Adding suffixes -ed and -ing to words ending in 'fer'

Here are some further examples of adding suffixes -ed and -ing to words ending in 'fer'.

Notice how the letter 'r' is doubled in the new word.

Words ending in 鈥榝er鈥With suffix '-ed' and second syllable stressedWith suffix '-ing' and second syllable stressed
preferpreferredpreferring
transfertransferredtransferring
inferinferredinferring
referreferredreferring

It helps to say the words out loud so you can hear the syllable you put a stress on.

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