The present participle form of a verb is its ing-form.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
hop | hopping |
hope | hoping |
Here are some spelling rules for forming the present participle form of
verbs.
-
For most verbs ending in a consonant plus e, drop the e
and add ing.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
hope | hoping |
make | making |
refuse | refusing |
strive | striving |
Exceptions:
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
singe | singeing |
tinge | tingeing |
-
For verbs ending in ee, add ing.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
agree | agreeing |
flee | fleeing |
see | seeing |
-
For one-syllable verbs ending in a vowel plus a consonant other than
w, x, or y, double the last consonant and add
ing.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
hop | hopping |
pat | patting |
swim | swimming |
-
For verbs ending in a vowel plus w, x or y, add
ing.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
flow | flowing |
relax | relaxing |
stay | staying |
-
For two-syllable verbs ending in a vowel plus a consonant, double the last
consonant and add ing when the stress is on the last syllable.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
admit | admitting |
control | controlling |
refer | referring |
The last consonant is not doubled when the stress is on the first
syllable.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
cancel | canceling |
gallop | galloping |
loiter | loitering |
Please note that in British English, the consonant l is doubled,
even though the stress is on the first syllable.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
cancel | cancelling |
level | levelling |
marvel | marvelling |
ravel | ravelling |
revel | revelling |
travel | travelling |
-
For verbs ending in two vowels plus a consonant, add ing.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
beep | beeping |
croak | croaking |
eat | eating |
foul | fouling |
toil | toiling |
-
For verbs ending in a consonant plus y, add ing.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
fry | frying |
pity | pitying |
-
For verbs ending in ie, change the ie to y and
add ing.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
die | dying |
lie | lying |
tie | tying |
-
For verbs ending in oe or ye, add ing.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
shoe | shoeing |
toe | toeing |
dye | dyeing |
-
For verbs ending in c, change the c to ck and add
ing.
Base Form | Present Participle Form |
frolic | frolicking |
mimic | mimicking |
panic | panicking |
picnic | picnicking |
traffic | trafficking |