Why is That <e> There?
sleeve
No complete English word ends in <v>.
She came to his aid.
She made lemon_______.
lemonade
baby + sit ➛
baby + sit ➛ babysit
trying ➛
trying ➛ try + ing
finite
The final <e> marks the sound of the <i> as 'long' or 'tense.' (It makes the vowel 'say its name.')
You need a belt for the waist of your pants.
Don't __________ food.
waste
baby + ing ➛
baby + ing ➛ babying
tried ➛
tried ➛ try + ed
due
No complete English word ends in <u>, OR a content word needs at least three letters.
I might go with you.
A dust ______ is a microscopic bug.
mite
baby + es ➛
baby + es ➛ babies
tries ➛
tries ➛ try + es
intense
Plural cancelation: the <e> shows that the <s> before it is not a suffix <-s>.
I can't hear you.
Your shoes are over _______.
here
baby + ed ➛
baby + ed ➛ babied
tryouts ➛
tryouts ➛ try + out + s
strange
The <e> marks the sound of the <a> as 'long' AND it marks the <g> as 'soft' (spelling /ʤ/).
Peat moss grows in moist environments.
This is my nephew, _________.
Pete
baby + ish ➛
baby + ish ➛ babyish
trial ➛
trial ➛ try + al