Final answer:
In English, verbs ending in -y change the -y to -i before adding certain suffixes such as -er, unless the -y is preceded by a vowel. This rule also applies when forming the plural of nouns ending in -y or the past tense of verbs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Verb Conjugation and Spelling Patterns in English
When conjugating verbs in English that end in -y, there is a specific spelling pattern that one needs to follow. If the -y is preceded by a consonant before adding a suffix that begins with -e, -i, or -y, the -y often changes to -i. However, when the -y is preceded by a vowel, the -y doesn’t change. This rule helps maintain a consistent pronunciation in the transformed words. Here are some examples applying this rule:
- reply + er = replier
- dry + er = drier
- worry + er = worrier
- fry + er = frier
- fly + er = flier
- carry + es = carries
- supply + er = supplier
- cry + es = cries
It's also important to note that this spelling change occurs in the plural form of nouns ending in -y as well as when forming the past tense of certain verbs:
- sky + es = skies
- modify + es = modifies
- terrify + ed = terrified