Spelling Rules
Mary W. Ng
July 24, 2009
The Present Participle (ing-Form)
The present participle is the ing-form of a verb.
| Base Form | Present Participle |
|---|---|
| hop | hopping |
| hope | hoping |
Here are some spelling rules for forming the present participle of verbs.
-
For most verbs ending in a consonant plus e, drop the e and add ing.
Base Form Present Participle hope hoping make making refuse refusing strive striving Exception:
Base Form Present Participle singe singeing -
For verbs ending in ee, add ing.
Base Form Present Participle 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 hop hopping pat patting swim swimming -
For verbs ending in a vowel plus w, x or y, add ing.
Base Form Present Participle 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 admit admitting control controlling refer referring The last consonant is not doubled when the stress is on the first syllable.
Base Form Present Participle 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 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 beep beeping croak croaking eat eating foul fouling toil toiling -
For verbs ending in a consonant plus y, add ing.
Base Form Present Participle fry frying pity pitying -
For verbs ending in ie, change the ie to y and add ing.
Base Form Present Participle die dying lie lying tie tying -
For verbs ending in oe or ye, add ing.
Base Form Present Participle shoe shoeing dye dyeing -
For verbs ending in c, change the c to ck and add ing.
Base Form Present Participle frolic frolicking mimic mimicking panic panicking picnic picnicking