Module code: 1532

📚 Present Continuous Foundation Course (A1)

Spelling Rules for -ing Forms

Core PathWay

A1Grammar

1 Speaking vs Writing -ing Forms

You say -ing words every day. Easy! But writing them? That needs rules. A running coach writes notes about athletes. The coach writes: ‘Anna is running fast today. Tom is stopping for water. Maria is taking a break.’ Why does spelling matter? It shows you know English. Good spelling helps people read your writing. Today you learn three spelling rules. These rules help you write -ing words correctly every time.

Key Terms

running moving quickly on foot

coach a person who trains athletes or sports players

athletes a person who is good at sports

stopping coming to a halt, ceasing movement

taking getting or receiving something

break a short rest from activity

2 Three Spelling Rules

English has three rules for -ing spelling. Rule one is about short words. Rule two is about silent e. Rule three is about ie words. Learn these rules and you can spell all -ing words correctly.

Focus

Short words with one vowel sound: double the last letter
Words ending in silent e: drop the e
Words ending in ie: change ie to y

Rules

Rule 1 – Double the consonant: run → running, stop → stopping, swim → swimming, sit → sitting, jog → jogging
Rule 2 – Drop silent e: take → taking, move → moving, dance → dancing
Rule 3 – Change ie to y: lie → lying, die → dying, tie → tying

Examples

The athlete is running ten laps today. (double n)
She is taking a rest after stretching. (drop e, add ch)
He is lying on the mat. (change ie to y)

Common mistake

Many learners write -ing words the way they sound. They write runing, takeing, or lieing. This is wrong. You must use the spelling rules. The sound does not show you the spelling. Always check: does this word need a double letter? Does it end in silent e? Does it end in ie?

Key Terms

jogging running at a slow, steady pace for exercise

swimming moving through water using arms and legs

sitting resting with weight on buttocks, not standing

stretching extending the body or limbs to full length

moving changing position or location

dancing moving rhythmically to music

lying being in a horizontal resting position

dying ceasing to live, coming to an end

tying fastening with string or rope

training the process of learning skills through practice

session a period of time devoted to an activity

exercise physical activity to stay healthy and fit

rest a period of relaxation after activity

lap one complete circuit of a track or course

3 Training Session Notes

Coach Sam writes notes at a training session. Many athletes are here today. Sam groups the notes by spelling rule.

Rule 1 – Double the consonant:
Anna is running very fast. She is jogging for warm-up first. Then she is running hard. Tom is stopping at the water station. He is sitting on the bench now. Maria is swimming in the pool. She is swimming twenty laps today.

Rule 2 – Drop silent e:
Peter is taking a water bottle. He is moving to the track. Sarah is stretching her legs. Now she is dancing to music for warm-up. This is good exercise!

Rule 3 – Change ie to y:
John is lying on the mat. He is lying down for a rest. He is tying his shoe. The laces are loose. He is tying them tight now.

Sam looks at the notes. All the -ing words are spelled correctly. Good! These spelling rules help Sam write clear notes. The athletes can read them easily.

Key Terms

training the process of learning skills through practice

session a period of time devoted to an activity

athletes a person who is good at sports

running moving quickly on foot

jogging running at a slow, steady pace for exercise

stopping coming to a halt, ceasing movement

sitting resting with weight on buttocks, not standing

swimming moving through water using arms and legs

laps one complete circuit of a track or course

taking getting or receiving something

moving changing position or location

stretching extending the body or limbs to full length

dancing moving rhythmically to music

exercise physical activity to stay healthy and fit

lying being in a horizontal resting position

rest a period of relaxation after activity

tying fastening with string or rope

4 Your Turn: Write About Exercise

Now you write! Think about people at a park or gym.

✍️Writing Task-ing forms with correct spelling: consonant doubling (run, stop, swim, sit), silent e dropping (take, move, dance), and ie to y change (lie, tie)

Write about people exercising in a park or gym. Write 60-80 words. Use at least 6 different -ing verbs. You must use: at least 2 verbs with double consonants, at least 2 verbs that drop silent e at least 1 verb that changes ie to y. Check your spelling carefully!

0 words / ~70 target

5 Remember the Rules

Good work! You now know three spelling rules for -ing words. Rule 1: short word + short vowel + consonant = double it. Example: run → running. Rule 2: word ends in silent e = drop it. Example: take → taking. Rule 3: word ends in ie = change to y. Example: lie → lying. Here is a memory tip: Short vowel + consonant = double it. Silent e = drop it. ie = change to y. Always check your spelling when you write. These rules help you write correctly every time!

🎮 Practice Games

Sentence Scrambler

Spelling rules for adding -ing to verbs – Sentence Scramble

🔒

Member-Exclusive Sentence Builder

Reconstruct scrambled sentences to practice word order and develop your grammar intuition.

This feature is available to YSP members.

Explore Membership Benefits

← Previous Page 4 of 5 Next →