Adding -ing/-ed
Often we need to add -ing or -ed to a verb to make other forms of the verb, for example:
I was talking when John arrived
Spelling Rule
Just add -ing or -ed to the end of the base verb:
- work, working, worked
- play, playing, played
- open, opening, opened
Exceptions
(note: C=consonant; V=vowel)
| If the base verb ends in | do this | and add | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| C + V + C and a stressed syllable | double the final consonant |
ing ed |
stop, stopping, stopped begin, beginning |
| C + e | remove e |
phone, phoning, phoned dance, dancing, danced make, making |
|
| ie | change ie to y | ing |
lie, lying die, dying |
| nothing | d |
lie, lied die, died |
Test yourself with this -ing/-ed spelling quiz