a.) Add –ing to the base form of the verb.
read reading stand standing jump jumping

b.) If a verb ends in a silent –e, drop the final -e and add –ing.
leave leaving take taking receive receiving

c.) In a one-syllable word, if the last three letters are consonant-vowel-consonant combination (CVC), double
the last consonant before adding –ing.
sit sitting run running hop hopping

However, do not double the last consonant in word that end in w, x, or y.
sew sewing fix fixing enjoy enjoying

d.) In words of two or more syllables that end in a consonant-vowel-consonant combination, double the last
consonant only if the last syllable is stressed.
admit admitting regret regretting

e.) If a verb ends in –ie, change the –ie to y before adding -ing.
die dying

a.) Add –s for most verbs
work works buy buys ride rides return returns

b.) Add –es for words that end in –ch, -s , -sh, -x, or –z.
watch watches pass passes rush rushes relax relaxes buzz buzzes

c.) Change the –y to –i and add –es when the base form ends in a consonant +y.
study studies hurry hurries dry dries

d.) A few verbs have irregular forms.
be is do does go goes have has

a.) If the verb ends in a consonant, add –ed.
return returned help helped cook cooked

b.) If the verb ends in –e, add –d.
live lived create created die died

c.) In one-syllable words, if the verb ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant combination (CVC), double the
last consonant and add -ed.
hop hopped rub rubbed

However, do not double one-syllable words ending in –w, -x, or –y.

d.) In words of two or more syllables that end in consonant-vowel-consonant combination, double the last
consonant only if the last syllable is stressed.
prefer preferred (The last syllable is stressed) visit visited (The last syllable isn’t stressed)

e.) If the verb ends in a consonant, + y, change the -y to -i and –ed.
worry worried annoy annoyed

f.) If the verb ends in a vowel +y, add -ed. (Do not change the –y to –i.)
play played annoy annoyed

a.) Add –er to one-syllable adjectives to form the comparative. Add -est to one-syllable adjectives to form the superlative.
cheap cheaper cheapest bright brighter brightest

b.) If the adjective ends in –e, add –r or –st.
nice nicer nicest

c.) If the adjective ends in a consonant +y, change to y to i before you add –er or –est.
pretty prettier prettiest Exception: shy shyer shyest

d.) If the adjective ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant combination (CVC), double the final consonant
before adding –er or –est.
big bigger biggest

However, do not double the consonant in words ending in –w or –y.

 5.) SPELLING RULES FOR ADVERBS

a.) Add –ly to the corresponding adjectives
nice nicely quiet quietly quick quickly beautiful beautifully

2. If the adjective ends in consonant +y, change the y to i before adding –ly
   easy easily
3. If the adjective ends in –le, drop the -e and add –y.
   possible possibly

However, do not drop the –e for other adjectives ending in –e.
extreme extremely Exception: true truly

d.) If the adjective ends in –ic, add -ally.
basic basically fantastic fantastically terrific terrifically

Home | ESL | Write & Publish | Halderman Photographs | Real International Stories | anthonyhalderman.com | Halderman Award | E-mail