The Learning Studio> Spoken English Course> Week 4> 📘 Day 2 – Present Continuous > Rules for -Ing
Spelling Rules for -ing (Present Continuous)
When we use Present Continuous (is/am/are + verb-ing), we must follow some spelling rules for the verb.
🔹 Rule 1: Just Add -ing
👉 Most verbs: simply add -ing at the end.
Examples:
- play → playing
- read → reading
- work → working
- jump → jumping
- cook → cooking
🔹 Rule 2: If the verb ends in ‘e’, remove ‘e’ and add -ing
👉 Cut off the “e” at the end, then add -ing.
Examples:
- make → making
- write → writing
- dance → dancing
- drive → driving
🛑 But not if it ends in “ee”!
- see → seeing
- agree → agreeing
🔹 Rule 3: One short verb (1 syllable) with vowel + consonant → Double the last letter
👉 If the verb is short, and ends with a vowel + consonant (like: sit, run), double the last letter and add -ing.
Examples:
- run → running
- sit → sitting
- swim → swimming
- hop → hopping
- get → getting
🛑 Don’t double w, x, or y at the end
- snow → snowing
- fix → fixing
- play → playing
🔹 Rule 4: Two-syllable verbs – If stress is on the last syllable → Double the last letter
👉 If the second part of the word is louder, double the last letter.
Examples:
- begin → beginning
- forget → forgetting
- admit → admitting
🛑 But don’t double if stress is on the first part:
- visit → visiting
- open → opening
- listen → listening
🔹 Rule 5: If the verb ends in “ie” → change “ie” to “y” and add -ing
Examples:
- lie → lying
- die → dying
- tie → tying