Vowel = a sound we make when the breath flows out through the mouth freely, without being blocked. The English letters a , e , i , o , u are called vowels, because they represent such sounds.
Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses
Consonant = a sound we make that is not a vowel. The breath is somehow blocked on its way out of the mouth. For example, the sound b is made when breath flow is stopped with the lips. All the English letters which are not vowels are called consonants. These are: b , c , d , f , g , h , j , k , l , m , n , p , q , r , s , t , v , w , x , y , z .
Download a free worksheet + answer key.
Some verbs change their spelling when "ing" is added to them.
When a verb ends with a consonant - vowel - consonant and we put STRESS on this sound in speech, we double the last consonant . Then we add ing .
In the following examples the consonant is in blue , the vowel is in green , and ing is in red . The STRESS is underlined.
| r u n | => | r u nn + ing | => | running |
| s t o p | => | s t o pp + ing | => | stopping |
| p l a n | => | p l a nn + ing | => | planning |
| be g i n | => | be g i nn + ing | => | beginning |
But if we don't put STRESS on this sound in speech, then we simply add ing .
| o p e n | => | o p e n + ing | => | opening |
| vi s i t | => | vi s i t + ing | => | visiting |
| li s t e n | => | li s t e n + ing | => | listening |
| ha p p e n | => | ha p p e n + ing | => | happening |
When a verb ends with the letter e , we first remove it, and then add ing .
In the following examples the letter e is in purple and ing is in red .
| tak e | => | tak + ing | => | taking |
| mak e | => | mak + ing | => | making |
| danc e | => | danc + ing | => | dancing |
| writ e | => | writ + ing | => | writing |
When a verb ends with the letters ie , we change them into y and add ing .
In the following examples the letters ie are in brown , the letter y is in brown too, and ing is in red .
| l ie | => | l y + ing | => | lying |
| d ie | => | d y + ing | => | dying |
So these were the spelling rules for adding "ing".
By submitting your email, you consent to receiving updates and newsletters from us and to the sharing of your personal data with third parties for the purposes of sending you communications. We will not spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please see our privacy policy.
Please share this page with others:
