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Printable Handouts for ESL Students

Spelling Rules for Adding -s and -ing

The first chart outlines the spelling rules for adding an -s to nouns (to make them plural) as well as to verbs (when used with he/she/it in the simple present). The second chart outlines the spelling rules for adding -ing to verbs (for the continuous tenses).

Adding -s

Types of Words Rule Examples
most words just add –s
cat = cats
hit = hits
buy = buys
words ending in:
ch, sh, s, ss, x, z, zz, o
add –es
watch = watches
dish = dishes
kiss = kisses
fix = fixes
buzz = buzzes
do = does
words ending in f or fe drop the -f or -fe and add –ves
shelf = shelves
knife = knives

* some exceptions:

belief = beliefs
roof = roofs
words ending in:
any consonant + y
drop the -y and add –ies
study = studies
have change to has
have = has

Adding -ing

Types of Words Rule Examples
most words just add –ing
do = doing
work = working
play = playing
words ending in e drop the -e and add –ing
dance = dancing
make = making
words ending in ie drop the -ie and add –ying
die = dying
lie = lying
words ending in a short vowel followed by a single consonant double the consonant and add –ing
stop = stopping
begin = beginning
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