Vowel
= a sound we make when the breath flows out through the mouth freely,
without being blocked. The English letters a, e, i, o, u are called vowels,
because they represent such sounds.
Consonant
= a sound we make that is not a vowel. The breath is somehow blocked on
its way out of the mouth. For example, the sound b
is made when breath flow is stopped with the lips. All
the English
letters which are not vowels are called consonants. These are: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z.
Download
a free worksheet + answer key.
Some verbs change their spelling
when "ing" is added to them.
Verbs ending
with
"consonant-vowel-consonant"
When a verb ends with a consonant-vowel-consonant
and we put STRESS on this sound in speech, we double the last consonant.
Then we add ing.
In the following examples the consonant is in blue,
the vowel is in green,
and ing is
in red.
The STRESS is underlined.
run
=>
runn + ing
=>
running
stop
=>
stopp + ing
=>
stopping
plan
=>
plann + ing
=>
planning
begin
=>
beginn + ing
=>
beginning
But if we don't put STRESS on this sound in speech, then we
simply add ing.
open
=>
open + ing
=>
opening
visit
=>
visit + ing
=>
visiting
listen
=>
listen + ing
=>
listening
happen
=>
happen + ing
=>
happening
Verbs ending with "e"
When a verb ends with the letter e,
we first remove it, and then add ing.
In the following examples the letter e is in purple
and ing is
in red.
take
=>
tak + ing
=>
taking
make
=>
mak + ing
=>
making
dance
=>
danc + ing
=>
dancing
write
=>
writ + ing
=>
writing
Verbs ending with "ie"
When a verb ends with the lettersie,
we change them into y
and add ing.
In the following examples the letters ie are in brown, the
letter y is
in brown
too, and ing
is in red.
lie
=>
ly + ing
=>
lying
die
=>
dy + ing
=>
dying
So these were the spelling rules for adding "ing".