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  • 3rd Grade
  • Writing
  • About 10 minutes
  • See it all: a chart to keep

Adding Endings Chart

Before you add an ending, look at how the word ends. These rules tell you what to do.

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Adding Endings ChartName:Date:Before you add an ending, look at how the word ends. These rules tell you what to do.Vowel endings:-ed-ing-er-est-yConsonant endings:-s-ful-ness-ly1Most words: just add itMost of the time, the base word does notchange.jump → jumpedplay → playingkind → kindness2Silent e: drop the eDrop the e before a vowel ending. Keep itbefore a consonant ending, like hopeful.smile → smiledbake → bakingnice → nicest3Short vowel: double itOne syllable, one short vowel and oneconsonant at the end? Double theconsonant before a vowel ending.sit → sittinghop → hoppedbig → bigger4Consonant + y: y to iChange y to i. Keep the y before -ing(crying) and after a vowel (played).cry → criedbaby → babieshappy → happiness5Ends in s, x, z, ch, sh: add -esYou can hear the extra syllable: box-es,wish-es.box → boxeswish → wisheslunch → lunchesk5printables.com · Sheet #87124601 · Aligned with Common Core L.3.2f

How to do it

  1. Look at the vowel endings and consonant endings at the top.
  2. Read each rule and its examples.
  3. Find the rule that matches how your word ends.

Teaching tip

The rules mostly matter for vowel endings like -ed and -ing. Start there. This sheet is aligned with Common Core L.3.2f.

Adding Endings Chart for 3rd grade (spelling patterns), free printable
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About this chart

Five rules for adding endings (just add, drop the e, double the consonant, change y to i, and add -es) with three examples each.

What kids practice

Third graders learn that English spelling follows patterns more often than it seems. When they add an ending like -ed or -ing, the base word sometimes changes: hope becomes hoping, sit becomes sitting and cry becomes cried. Some sounds also have two spellings, and the right one depends on where the sound is in the word, like ck right after a short vowel (duck) but k after a consonant (milk). These sheets practice both kinds of rules.

Watch for

  • Keeping the silent e, like hopeing or makeing.
  • Forgetting to double, like runing or stoped.
  • Adding -s to words that end in y, like babys or puppys.
  • Using ck after a consonant or two vowels, like milck or boock.

It's free to print, as many copies as you need. See the full spelling patterns guide for 3rd grade.

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