How to spell regular verb forms
Most third person present singular verb forms add -s to the end of the verb.
For example work, he works - think, she thinks
However, if the verb ends in -s, -z, -x, -ch or -sh the third person present singular is formed by adding -es to the verb.
For example watch, she watches - brush, he brushes
The past tense and the past participle of regular verbs are formed by adding -ed to the end of the verb.
For example watch - watched, watched; wait - waited, waited
If the verb ends in -e or -ee, then the past tense and past participle are formed by only adding -d to the end of the verb.
For example live - lived, lived; agree - agreed, agreed
The present participle of a verb (like the gerund form) is formed by adding -ing to the end of the verb.
For example sing, singing - think, thinking
However, if the verb ends in a 'silent' -e (not pronounced), then the present participle is formed by dropping this -e from the end of the verb and adding -ing.
For example like, liking - stare, staring
How to spell the forms of a verb ending in -yThe third person present singular of verbs ending in -y preceded by a consonant is formed by changing the -y to -ies.
For example query, he queries - carry, she carries
The third person present singular of verbs ending in -y preceded by a vowel does not change the -y
For example play, he plays - stay, she stays
Regular verbs ending in -y preceded by a consonant form the past tense and the past participle by changing the -y into -ied.
For example query - queried, queried; carry - carried, carried
Regular verbs ending in -y preceded by a vowel do not change the -y for the past tense and the past participle.
For example stay - stayed, stayed; pray - prayed, prayed
The present participle (like the gerund form) of verbs ending in -y is formed by adding -ing to the end of the verb.
For example play, playing; carry, carrying
Doubled ConsonantsSometimes single syllable verbs ending with a single consonant have this letter repeated in the spelling for the present and past participles and the past tense.
For example drop - dropped, dropping; stop, stopped - stopping

