Rule 1: Drop the EVerbs ending in -e(which is usually silent) lose this letter before adding -ing.Ads by GoogleExamples write: The student iswritinghis essay tonight. take: She said she wastakingthe dog for a walk. close: When isclosingtime? concede: I think the wrestler isconcedingdefeat. prune: Your father ispruningthe roses.As usual in English, there are a couple of exceptions to this rule, as outlined below. First ExceptionVerbs which end in an /i:/ ("ee") sounddonotdrop the final e.Examplesbe: She'sbeingvery secretive these days.see: Are youseeingthings?agree: Sometimes the best policy isagreeingto disagree. Second ExceptionSome verbs ending in -ngeWhere the g has a soft sound (like "j" in jam), some verbs donotdrop the final e.Examplessinge: Harry issingeinghis eyebrows with the candle!binge:After fasting all day, she spent the eveningbingeingon chocolate.(Note, however, hinge - hinging, cring - cringing, lunge - lunging, fringe - fringing. Consult a dictionary when you come across any new -nge verbs for the spelling of the continuous form.) Third ExceptionThe verb "dye".ExampleShe said she will bedyeingher hair next week. Additional resourcesForming the Present Participle of English Verbs: Spelling Changes and PronunciationING-LISH: CORRECT SPELLING OF CONTINUOUS FORMS OF VERBSThis series explains the spelling rules for adding -ing to verbs to create the continuous forms. It is split into three articles and four rules.1. ING-lish: Spelling Rules for Adding -ing to English Verbs2. Drop the IE and Add a K: Rules 2 and 3 for Adding -ing to English Verbs3. ING-lish: Rule 4 for Adding -ing to Verbs in English

Spelling of Verb + INGFor many verbs we make the ING form by simplyadding -ING to end of the verb. eat - eating speak - speaking cook - cooking start - starting do - doing stay - staying fix - fixing try - tryingVerbs 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 - writingVerbs ending with -eeJust add -ING agree - agreeing flee - fleeing see - seeingVerbs ending with -ieChange the -ie to -y and add -ING die - dying tie - tying lie - lyingVerbs ending with one vowel and one consonant (with the exception of w, x, and y)For one syllable verbsdouble the consonant and add -ING jog - jogging sit - sitting run - running stop - stoppingFor two syllable verbsIf the 1st syllable is stressed, just add ING answer - answering offer - offering listen - listening visit - visitingIf the 2nd syllable is stressed , double the consonant and add ING admit- admitting prefer- preferring begin- begining

The - ing FormEnglish verbs have five basic forms: the base form, the - S form,the- ing form, the past form, and the past participle form. The- ing ending for English verbs is used in several different situations:1.The -ing ending is used to showtheprogressiveaspect(progressive / continuous verb tenses).The progressive aspect shows that an action is / was /has been / had been / will be (etc.) in progress at aparticular time or during a particular period of time.It often suggests that the action is / was / has been /had been / will be (etc.) long or uninterrupted.All of the English tenses can use the progressive aspect--and in both active and passive sentences. Progressiveaspect always has at least two parts: the verbbe(whichis often contracted) and an- ing verb:He'sstudying.Theyweregoinghome when I saw them.You'vebeenworkingtoo hard!We'dbeentalkingabout you before you called.At 1:00 AM, I'llbesleeping.John mightbeworking. I'm not sureThe operationisbeingperformed right now.The letterswerebeingtyped when I left.

2.The -ing form is also used forgerunds(verbs whichare used as nouns).Gerunds can be used as nouns forsubjectsandsubject complements:Learninga language isn't easy.Talkingto Bill was a lot of fun.Communicatingby e-mail has becomevery common.His hobby is collectingstamps.______________________________________

Gerunds can also be used as nouns forobjectsof verbs and prepositions:They dislike studying.For exercise, he recommends swimming.He doesn't care about beingon time.They're tired of listeningto you.Did he succeed in solvingthe problem?

3.The -ing form is also seen inparticiples(verb formswhich are used as adjectives).Participles are commonly used as adjectives whichmodify nouns:The movie was boring.That was an excitinggame.His explanation was confusing.______________________________________

Participles are also used in phrases which modifyparts of sentences or entire sentences:Whistlinghappily, he began to work.He entered the room, whistlinghappily,and began to work.Holdinghis hands in the air, he surrendered.He surrendered reluctantly, knowingthathe had no other choice.

4.The -ing form is also used aftergoin many expressionsshowing leisure-time activities--includinggo bowling, go dancing, go diving,go drinking, go fishing, go hiking,go horseback riding, go jogging, go skating,go swimming, go shopping, go skiing

Special Notes:1.Afterto, base forms are generally used, but whentois part of aphrasal verband whentois used asapreposition, it is followed by an - ing form:I want toseeyou. /I look forward toseeingyou.Are you able todoit by yourself? /Are you up todoingit by yourself?He used tosmoke. /He's used tosmoking.

2.If phrases with participles are at the beginning ofa sentence, they should modify / describe thefirstnoun or pronounin the sentence:Whistlinghappily, he began to work.("Whistling happily" modifies "he.")Holdinghis hands in the air, he surrendered.("Holding his hands in the air" modifies "he.")______________________________________

If a phrase with a participle is at the beginning ofa sentence anddoesn'tmodify / describe the firstnoun or pronoun, the meaning will not be clear.In this situation, rewrite the sentence.wrong--needs to be rewritten:*Whistlinghappily, the work waseasy for him.wrong--needs to be rewritten:*Holdinghis hands in the air, the policeman knewthat the criminal wanted to surrender.

3.Bothpresentparticiples (- ing forms) andpastparticiples can be used as adjectives, but they havedifferent meanings:The movie bored me. --->The movie was boring. / I was bored.That game excited me. --->That was an excitinggame /I was excitedby that game.His explanation confused me. --->His explanation was confusing./I was confusedby his explanation.

4.The combinationgo+ an - ing form is not used forall leisure-time activities:wrong:*I go watching TV on weekends.*I go playing tennis on weekends.*I go sleeping late on weekends.*I go relaxing with my friends on weekends.

5.Some verbs which combine with other words arefollowed by an -ing form (gerund), nottoanda base form:I regret sayingthat.He admitted stealingthe money.I recommend seeinga doctor.He considered takinga vacation.They proposed takinga break.Did she suggest cheating?