Present Continuous: Spelling rules for -ing form

The Present Continuous shows what is happening this very second. You use the verb to be plus a main verb. The main verb always ends in -ing. For example, I am eating. The eating part is what we are focusing on today. Most of the time, you just add the letters. But English has a few spelling traps. These traps usually happen at the end of the word. We look at the last few letters. Those letters tell us what to do. It is like a grammar traffic light. Green means just add -ing. Yellow means change something. Red means stop and think. Do not worry, even native speakers double-check these sometimes. It is totally normal to practice this a lot.

1. 1Follow these four simple steps to get the spelling right every time:
2. 2The General Rule: For most verbs, just add -ing. No changes needed.
3. 3walk becomes walking.
4. 4talk becomes talking.
5. 5The Silent E Rule: If a verb ends in a silent e, drop it. Then add -ing.
6. 6dance becomes dancing.
7. 7make becomes making.
8. 8Think of the e as a shy guest who leaves when the -ing party starts.
9. 9The Double Consonant Rule: Look at the last three letters. Is it Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC)? If yes, double the last letter.
10. 10run becomes running.
11. 11sit becomes sitting.
12. 12Note: This only happens if the word is short or the stress is at the end.
13. 13The IE to Y Rule: If a verb ends in ie, change it to y. Then add -ing.
14. 14lie becomes lying.
15. 15die becomes dying.
16. 16This is a rare rule, but it is a total game-changer.

Use these -ing forms when you are in the middle of something. Imagine you are at a job interview. The boss asks, "What are you doing to improve?" You say, "I am studying every day." Or imagine you are ordering food. You tell your friend, "I am ordering the pizza now." It is for things that are temporary. It is for things that are not finished yet. If you are sitting in a chair, you use this rule. If you are writing a text, you use this rule. It makes your English feel alive and active. It shows you are part of the moment.

Do not use these rules for "stative" verbs. These are verbs about feelings or thoughts. You do not usually say "I am liking this coffee." Instead, say "I like this coffee." Other examples include love, hate, want, and know. Also, do not double the last letter if it is w, x, or y. For example, play stays playing. Snow stays snowing. Doubling a w would just look weird, right? Like a typo that went for a walk. Keep it simple for those specific letters.

One big mistake is forgetting to drop the e. Writing makeing looks a bit messy. Another mistake is doubling letters when you should not. People often write openning, but it should be opening. Why? Because the stress is at the start of the word. This is the tricky part! Also, do not forget the to be verb. I running is not a full sentence. You need I am running. It is like a bicycle; you need both wheels to move forward. Finally, watch out for y at the end of words like study. You do not change it. It just becomes studying.

Compare this to the Present Simple. Present Simple is for habits. "I run every morning." Present Continuous is for right now. "I am running right now!" See the difference? One is a routine. The other is a live event. It is like the difference between a photo and a video. The Present Simple is the photo. The Present Continuous is the video. Also, do not confuse it with the past. We are staying in the present. We are staying in the "now."