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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