doubling in equiPPed

English grammar questions, answered by Alan

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googl
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doubling in equiPPed

Post by googl »

Dear teacher,

why we double final 'p' in equiPPed? It does not match consonant-vowel-consonant (I read that we do not double final consonant if it is preceded by 2 vowels; but is here 'u' a vowel?)
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Alan
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Post by Alan »

You have hit upon a rare exception: 'u' following a 'q' does not count, since it never serves to lengthen the vowel sound.
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Post by googl »

Dear teacher,
Alan wrote:You have hit upon a rare exception: 'u' following a 'q' does not count, since it never serves to lengthen the vowel sound.
The vowels are a e i o u and sometimes y.
Could You explain me, when a letter is a vowel? (Are there any other rules like 'q' before 'u'? When 'y' is a vowel?)
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Post by Alan »

True vowels are only a,e,i,o,u. In some words, such as 'why', 'y' occurs as a substitute vowel.

As regards rules of letter-doubling, you need not be concerned with 'y'. There are no other exceptions to the normal rule that spring to mind beyond that already noted of 'u' following a 'q'.
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