Adding ing for Kids: Easy Spelling Rules for Action Words (Grade 1 and 2 English)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. When something is happening right now, we often add ing to an action word. Jump becomes jumping. Today we will learn three easy rules for adding ing.

Rule one. For most words, just add ing. Play becomes playing. Read becomes reading. Sing becomes singing. The base word stays exactly the same, and you simply put ing on the end. Easy!

Rule two. If a word ends with a silent E, drop the E, then add ing. Make becomes making. Ride becomes riding. Smile becomes smiling.

Rule three. If a short word has one short vowel and ends with one consonant, double the last letter. Run becomes running. Sit becomes sitting. Hop becomes hopping.

Why double? The extra letter keeps the vowel short. Hopping has a short O. Without the double P, it would be hoping, which has a long O and means something else!

Let's check some words. Jump ends with two consonants, so just add ing. Jumping. Bake ends with silent E, so drop it. Baking. Swim ends with one consonant after a short vowel. Swimming!

Now it's your turn. Add ing to the word dance, and then to the word clap. Pause and try. Dance drops the E to make dancing. Clap doubles the P to make clapping.

Great job! Remember, most words just add ing. Drop a silent E before ing. Double the last letter after one short vowel. Practice adding ing in the English Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!