How do we spell the Present Continuous Tense?
We make the present continuous tense by adding -ing to the base verb. Normally it's simple - we just add -ing. But sometimes we have to change the word a little. Perhaps we double the last letter, or we drop a letter. Here are the rules to help you know how to spell the present continuous tense.
| Basic rule | Just add -ing to the base verb: |
| work | > | working |
| play | > | playing |
| assist | > | assisting |
| see | > | seeing |
| be | > | being |
| Exception 1 | If the base verb ends in consonant + stressed vowel + consonant, double the last letter: | s | t | o | p | | | consonant | stressed
vowel | consonant |
(vowels = a, e, i, o, u) |
| stop | > | stopping |
| run | > | running |
| begin | > | beginning |
| Note that this exception does not apply when the last syllable of the base verb is not stressed: |
| open | > | opening |
| Exception 2 | If the base verb ends in ie, change the ie to y: |
| lie | > | lying |
| die | > | dying |
| Exception 3 | If the base verb ends in vowel + consonant + e, omit the e: |
| come | > | coming |
| mistake | > | mistaking |
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