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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Adding -s

Adding -ing