I'd like to know if there is a grammar rule stating when the last consonant of the verb has to be doubled. E.g. why: "to cut" -> cutter, "to program" -> programmer, but "to read" -> reader?
-
I personally have not come across any written rules regarding these word forms.– EniolaCommented Apr 28, 2017 at 16:19
-
you double to prevent an unintended pronunciation. Cuter rhymes with pewter. Programer would rhyme with “pro gamer” etc.– JimCommented Apr 28, 2017 at 16:43
-
1I don't think this is a "grammar rule," more of a spelling or orthography rule.– RaceYouAnytimeCommented Apr 28, 2017 at 18:24
-
The word was programme until the Americans shortened it. So clearly, the noun has to be programmer.– Peter ShorCommented Apr 28, 2017 at 19:54
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
The general rule is: double a single consonant letter following a single vowel letter with a short vowel sound; don't double anything else. (The doubled consonant is a cue that the vowel sound should remain short.)
So:
- cut has a short 'u' and a single 't': therefore cutter.
- program has a short 'a' and a single 'm': programmer.
- read has a long 'e' sound from 'ea': reader
- head has a short 'e' sound but it comes from a double-vowel 'ea', so header.
Of course, this being English, there will be exceptions.
-
If you added letter after consonant and vowel to parallel short vowel sound, the answer would be perfect. I recommend this because orthographic rules often conflate letters and sounds; they should be distinguished when stating the rules carefully. Since there are only 5 vowel letters to represent at least 14 vowel sounds in English, this is one of the dodges to make the vowel letters do double duty. Commented Apr 28, 2017 at 22:12
-
-
Another important point to note is probably stress: the "short vowel sound" doubling rule doesn't apply with words like "edit, edited, editing" where the "i" corresponds to an unstressed vowel.– herissonCommented Apr 29, 2017 at 5:09