Adding -ing

When adding -ing to verbs, the spelling of the base verb may change depending on the ending of the word.

Spelling rules for adding “-ing”:

1. Basic Rule: Add -ing
   For most verbs, you simply add “-ing” to the base form.
   walk → walking
   talk → talking
   eat → eating
   

2. Drop the Silent -e
   If the verb ends in a silent “e” (an “e” that isn’t pronounced), you drop the “e” before adding “-ing."
   make → making
   take → taking
   write → writing
   

Exceptions to the Silent -e Rule:
Verbs ending in “-ee,” “-ye,” or “-oe” generally keep the “e” when adding “-ing”:
see → seeing
agree → agreeing
free → freeing

3. Double the Final Consonant (CVC Rule)
   This is sometimes called the “1-1-1 rule” (1 syllable, 1 vowel, 1 consonant). If a one-syllable verb ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel (a consonant-vowel-consonant or CVC pattern), you double the final consonant before adding “-ing."
   sit → sitting
   run → running
   swim → swimming
   

4. For multi-syllable words, you only double the final consonant if the stress is on the last syllable.
   begin → beginning (stress on “gin”)
   refer → referring (stress on “fer”)
   prefer → preferring (stress on “fer”)
   control → controlling (stress on “trol”)
   But: offer → offering (stress on “of”)
   suffer → suffering (stress on “suf”)
   open → opening (stress on “o”)
   

5. Final consonants w, x, and y are not doubled:
   mix → mixing
   play → playing
   row (in a boat) → rowing
   

6. -ie Changes to -y
   If a verb ends in “-ie,” you change the “-ie” to “-y” before adding “-ing."
   die → dying
   lie → lying (to recline)
   tie → tying
   

7. Ends in “-c,” you add “-king”
   panic → panicking
   mimic → mimicking
   traffic → trafficking
   

The following diagram gives the some spelling rules for adding -ing. Scroll down the page for more examples.

 

Spelling Rules for Verbs
Adding -ed
Irregular Verbs
Adding -ing

The suffix -ing
All Spelling Rules For Adding The Suffix -ing In A Rap Song

• Show Video

Adding ‘ing’
Spelling in English

• Show Video

ING Spelling rules
Spelling of verbs ending in ING in English

• Show Video

Try out our new and fun Fraction Concoction Game.

Add and subtract fractions to make exciting fraction concoctions following a recipe. There are four levels of difficulty: Easy, medium, hard and insane. Practice the basics of fraction addition and subtraction or challenge yourself with the insane level.

We welcome your feedback, comments and questions about this site or page. Please submit your feedback or enquiries via our Feedback page.