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
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ING Spelling rules
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