Spelling of Verb + ING

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For many verbs we make the ING form by simply adding -ING to end of the verb.

  • eat - eating
  • speak - speaking
  • cook - cooking
  • start - starting
  • do - doing
  • stay - staying
  • fix - fixing
  • try - trying

Verbs ending with -e (with the exception of verbs ending in -ee and -ie)

Drop the -e and add ING

  • hope - hoping
  • ride - riding
  • make - making
  • write - writing

Verbs ending with -ee

Just add -ING

  • agree - agreeing
  • flee - fleeing
  • see - seeing

Verbs ending with -ie

Change the -ie to -y and add -ING

  • die - dying
  • tie - tying
  • lie - lying

Verbs ending with one vowel and one consonant (with the exception of w, x, and y)

For one syllable verbs

double the consonant and add -ING

  • jog - jogging
  • sit - sitting
  • run - running
  • stop - stopping

For two syllable verbs

If the 1st syllable is stressed, just add ING

  • answer - answering
  • offer - offering
  • listen - listening
  • visit - visiting

If the 2nd syllable is stressed , double the consonant and add ING

  • admit - admitting
  • prefer - preferring
  • begin - beginning

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