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Change Y to I
happy → happier, carry → carried — but carrying.
Grades 2-6
The rule
When a word ends in a consonant + y, change the y to i before adding a suffix. When it ends in a vowel + y, leave the y alone.
How it works
| happy + er = happier | consonant + y → y becomes i |
| carry + ed = carried | consonant + y → y becomes i |
| baby → babies | consonant + y → y becomes i |
| play + ed = played | vowel + y → keep the y |
| monkey → monkeys | vowel + y → keep the y |
| enjoy + ed = enjoyed | vowel + y → keep the y |
Watch out for
- Never change the y before -ing — you would end up with two i's: carrying, studying, copying.
- A few short words keep the y: dryer, shyness, slyly.