The comparative degree of “cheap”? Why is cheaper? The comparative degree of “cheap”? Why is cheaper? As we know one syllable word which is end of a vowel and a consonant needs to double the end of t

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The comparative degree of “cheap”? Why is cheaper? The comparative degree of “cheap”? Why is cheaper? As we know one syllable word which is end of a vowel and a consonant needs to double the end of the letter. such as: big; bigger; fat; fatter; sad; sadder. but cheap is cheap. "ea" sounds /i:/ which is a vowel and the letters "a" and "e" are vowel letters. Why "cheaper" only just one "p"? By the way, if I wanna ask a question. which is the most common saying in spoken English? 1. "May I ask you a question?" 2."I have a question." 3. or something you think is more mommon. Thank you very much!

Jan 4, 2012 2:31 PM

Answers · 8

May I ask you a question is fairly formal. You would probably use it with an older person or teacher or a little child or if you are going to ask a "delicate" question. I have a question or Can I ask you a question are the most common.

January 4, 2012

Your rule is incorrect. Only those with a SHORT vowel double the consonant to keep the vowel short. "Cheap" has a LONG vowel.

January 4, 2012

Eliot's right: "cheap" has a long vowel sound. We only add an extra consonant if the vowel is also short. (Without it, "biger" "fater" and "sader" all indicate long vowel sounds.) Israelphoenix has covered the second part of the question well, but I have only this to add: stop using "wanna" in your writing. Native English speakers who write like that are considered illiterate.

January 4, 2012

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