| rule | -s (he …) | -ed (past) | -ing |
|---|---|---|---|
| normal | works | worked | working |
| -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o | washes, goes, does | washed | washing |
| consonant + y | studies | studied | studying (y stays) |
| vowel + y | plays | played | playing |
| silent -e | makes | lived | making (e drops) |
| -ie | dies | died | dying, lying |
| one vowel + one consonant, stressed | stops | stopped | stopping, running |
Why double? To keep the short vowel: hoping (hope) ≠ hopping (hop). Only when the last syllable is stressed: begin → beginning, prefer → preferred, but visit → visited, open → opening. British English also doubles final -l: travel → travelled (US: traveled). Never double w, x, y: fixing, showing.
Contractions (spoken and informal writing): I'm, you're, he's, isn't, aren't, don't, doesn't, didn't, won't (= will not), can't, I've, I'd, I'll.
Translate the words from your reading, review them as flashcards and practise with gap-fill sentences.
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