Spelling Rules for Adding
"ing"
Introduction
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.
Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses
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 letters
ie,
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".
