Spelling rulesAdding the –ing to create a gerund or past participle is usually easy, but there are exceptions.

Verb + ingeat - 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 argue – arguingglue- gluingache - aching

Verbs ending with -eeJust add -ING

agree - agreeing flee - fleeing see - seeing free - freeing

Verbs ending with -ieChange the -ie to -y and add -ING

die - dying tie - tying lie - lying

One syllable verbs ending with one vowel and one consonant (with the exception of w, x, and y)

Double the consonant and add -ING

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

Two syllable verbs ending with one vowel and one consonant (with the exception of w, x, and y)

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

Quiz: add – ing to the following verbs1. speak 2. try3. bore 4. argue5. enjoy 6. buy 7. study 8. reply 9. control 10. offer

11. ache 12. shop 13. deny 14. allow 15. refer 16. sob 17. ripen 18.freeze 19. trim 20. bury