Verbs with ing Rules | Rules to Add -ing to Verbs

Do you know how to add '-ing' with verbs? When should you double the last letter to add -ing?

Well.

You are going to get all the answers from here. Here I'm going to share with you some rules add '-ing' with a verb.

At first you have to know when you should use verbs with ing and when you should not.

So, the first question is, why and when should you use a verb with ing?

Verbs with ing are used in two cases-

#1:-

To make present participle form to use in continuous tense (present, past, future continuous tense of verbs). And

#2:-

To make gerund of the verb to be used as a noun.

There are certain rules to add '-ing' to verbs.

Read more: Tense and time.

Read more: Different forms of a verb.

Rules to Add ing to Verbs

Starting with rule #1,

Rule #1: Remove the Ending '-e' :

If the verb ends with an '-e', then we'll use -ing removing the e.

Examples:

Propagate + ing = propagating.
Take + ing = taking.
Write + ing = writing.
Vote + ing = voting.

Exception:-
If there is double e at the end, this rule won't be applied. In this case simply put -ing after the verb without any change.

Like,

Flee + ing = fleeing. (Both the es are present).
See + ing = seeing.
Free +ing = freeing.

Rule #2: C-V-C Pattern :

If any verb ends with a consonant, and the consonant is preceded by a vowel which is again preceded by a consonant [-consonant -vowel-consonant (C-V-C) pattern] The last consonant is doubled and then ‘-ing’ is used.

Examples:

Get + ing = getting.
Set + ing = setting.
Cut + ing = cutting.
Run + ing = running.
Ban + ing = banning.
Dig + ing = digging.
Stop +ing = stopping.
Tap +ing = tapping.
Shop + ing = shopping.
Sob + ing = sobbing.
Rub + ing = rubbing.
Chat + ing = chatting.
Bat + ing = batting.

Exceptions :

Exception #1 :

Verbs ending in -w, -x, -y do not follow this rule.

E.g.-

Low + ing = lowing. (Single w)
Show + ing = showing. (Single w)
Grow + ing = Growing. (Single w)
Flow + ing = Flowing. (Single w)
Box + ing = boxing. (Single x)
Mix + ing = Mixing. (Single x)
Fix + ing = Fixing. (Single x)
Wax + ing = Waxing.. (Single x)
Say + ing = saying. (single y)
Pay + ing = paying. (Single y)
Play + ing = playing. (Single y)
Annoy + ing = annoying. (Single y)

Exception #2 :

In case of di-syllabic verbs, if the stress is on the second syllable:

Below are some di-syllabic words (verbs) -

Begin, Admit, Refer, Commit, Equal, Travel, distil.

[Like, Begin = Be-gin, Admit = ad-mit Travel = tra-vel etc.]

Begin + ing = beginning.
Admit + ing = admitting.
Refer + ing = regerring.
Commit + ing = committing.
Equal + ing = equalling.
Travel + ing = travelling.
Distil + ing = Distilling.

For a Di-syllabic verb if the stress in on the first syllable:

Visit + ing = visiting.
Open + ing = opening.
Target + ing = targeting.
Listen + ing = listening.

If you don't know what a monosyllabic word or di-syllabic word is visit this page to understand syllable.

Rule #3: Change the ending '-ie' into '-y' :

If the verb ends with -ie, the -ie is replaced with -y, and then the ing is used.

Examples:

Lie + ing = lying.
Die + ing = dying.
Tie + ing = tying.

Rule #4: Put an Extra '-k' :

Put an extra '-k' while using '-ing' with a verb ending with '-ic'.

E.g.-

Mimic + ing = mimicking.
Panic + ing = panicking.
Traffic + ing = trafficking.
Picnic + ing = picnicking.
Frolic + ing = frolicking.

Where NOT to Use Verbs with -ing

Some verbs are never used in any continuous tense.

In other words, you cannot use some verbs with ing to form its continuous tense.

Examples of such verbs are:

Verbs of appearance:

Appear, look, seem, exist, smell, sound, taste etc.

Verbs of perception:

Belong, possess, own etc.

Verbs of emotion:

Love, hate, hope, respect, feel, like, wish, want, realise, prefer etc.

Verbs of thinking:

Understand, believe, imagine, remember, recall, know, forget etc.

Others:

Agree, disagree, need, owe, be etc.

Use-

I am hoping for better days. (Incorrect)
I hope for better days. (Correct)

He is feeling well. (Incorrect)
He feels well. (Correct)

She is resembling her mother. (Incorrect)
She resembles her mother. (Correct)

I am wishing your success. (Incorrect)
I wish your success. (Correct)

You cannot use verbs with ing only if it is in continuous tenses.

However, there are some exceptions of this rule.

Exception:-

In other cases -

When you try to make a present participle or gerund form of a verb, you have every right to add '-ing' to them.

E.g.-

Loving is easy. (Correct)

This box is her only belonging. (Correct)

He has virtually no understanding of social evils. (Correct)

In the sentences above love, belong and understand are used with '-ing' as loving, belonging and understanding respectively.

And these sentences are still correct as they are not in continuous tense.

Thank you...

Telegram Button

Verbs with ing Rules | Rules to Add -ing to Verbs