SUFFIX -ING

1.) ING can be:

 a) Progressive / Continuous verb tenses: I am writing a letter right now
 b) Used for gerunds (= verbs used as nouns): Swimming is healthy / We like playing tennis
 c) participles (verb forms used as adjectives): This film is boring.
 d) Relative Clauses: People buying lottery tickets are often found at bingo.

2.) Spelling rules

Generally, the suffix ING is attached to the end of the root word. There are several important groups of words
in which the spelling of the root word changes when you add a suffix. Sometimes the spelling changes
because of the Doubling rules. As always, there are exceptions to these rules, but here you have the most
important groups:

a) For most short (one syllable) words that end in a single consonant (anything but 'a', 'e', i, 'o', 'u'), double
the last letter when adding a suffix:
eg run + ing = running
b) If the word ends with more than one consonant, don't double the last letter:
eg sing + ing = singing

For most longer (more than one syllable) words that end in 'L“: double the „L“ when adding the suffix:
eg travel + ing = travelling

a) For most longer (more than one syllable) words that have the stress on the last syllable when you say
them and end with a single consonant (anything but 'a', 'e', Y, 'o', 'u'), double the last letter:
eg begin + ing = beginning
prefer + ing = preferring
b) If the word has more than one syllable and ends with a single consonant, but the stress isn't on the
last syllable, you don't need to double the last letter before adding a suffix:
eg offer + ing = offering

a) Words ending silent “E” (make, race, take, smile, come)

If a word ends in a silent (not spoken) “E”, this silent letter “E” must be dropped before adding ING.
eg make + ing = making
b) Verbs that end in EE have the following spelling patterns for adding the ING. (free, flee, agree…)
eg see + ing = seeing

Verbs like TIE change IE to Y before adding the ending ING. (lie – lying; die – dying;...)
eg tie + ing = tying

Summary:
o Most words simply just add “ing”
o Words ending in E ... drop the E before adding “ing”
o Short words with a short vowel need a double letter before adding “ing”
o Longer words, last part stressed, need a double letter just like short words
o Longer words, first part stressed, do not double the last letter
o Words ending in L, double the L before adding ”ing” (GB X US!!)