Deep Dive

The Art of -ING

Most verbs are simple, but the exceptions cause the most mistakes. Master the doubling of consonants and the tricky vowel changes.

1

General Rule

Just add -ing to the base verb.

Work → Working
Read → Reading
Go → Going
Eat → Eating
Sleep → Sleeping
2

Silent 'E'

Drop the final 'e' before adding -ing.

Make → Making
Write → Writing
Dance → Dancing
Drive → Driving
Smile → Smiling

*Exception: be → being

3

IE → Y

Change 'ie' to 'y' then add -ing.

Lie → Lying
Die → Dying
Tie → Tying
Vie → Vying
4

Final 'Y'

Do NOT change the Y. Just add -ing.

Play → Playing
Study → Studying
Try → Trying
Fly → Flying
Enjoy → Enjoying

The Doubling Rule (CVC)

When do we double the last letter? It depends on Stress.

One Syllable Verbs

If the verb has 1 vowel + 1 consonant at the end, double the consonant.

Sit Sitting
Run Running
Stop Stopping
Get Getting
Cut Cutting
Swim Swimming

Exceptions: Do not double W, X, or Y (e.g., Snowing, Fixing).

Multi-Syllable Verbs

Only double if the Stress is on the last syllable.

Stress on End → Double

Begin Beginning
Forget Forgetting
Admit Admitting
Prefer Preferring

Stress on Start → No Double

Visit Visiting
Open Opening
Happen Happening
Listen Listening

Spelling Challenge

Select the correctly spelled word.

1. Sit

2. Write

3. Die

4. Study

5. Begin

6. Open

7. Put

8. Lie (tell a lie)

9. Control

10. Snow