How do we make the -ing verb form in English?
Note: This is also called the verb + -ing form and the verb-ing form.
1. Basic rule
For most verbs, simply add -ing to the base form.
- play → playing
- read → reading
- work → working
2. Verbs that end in -e
Remove the final -e, then add -ing.
- make → making
- write → writing
- dance → dancing
❗ Note: Keep the -e if the verb ends in -ee, -ye or -oe:
- see → seeing
- dye → dyeing
- canoe → canoeing
3. One-syllable verbs with the consonant–vowel–consonant pattern
Double the final consonant, then add -ing.
- run → running
- sit → sitting
- swim → swimming
❗ Note: Do not double the final consonant if it is a -w, -x or -y:
- snow → snowing
- fix → fixing
- pay → paying
4. Verbs that end in -ie
Change -ie to “y”, then add -ing.
- lie → lying
- die → dying
5. Two-syllable verbs that end in a consonant
If the stress is on the last syllable, double the consonant, then add -ing.
- begin → beginning
- prefer → preferring
If the stress is not on the last syllable, do not double the consonant:
- listen → listening
- visit → visiting
Exception: If a two-syllable verb ends in a single vowel + l, always double the l in British English.
British English: travel → travelling; cancel → cancelling; model → modelling
American English: travel → traveling; cancel → canceling; model → modeling