How to Spell Verb Forms

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 -y

The 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 Consonants

Sometimes 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

How to Spell Noun Plurals

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Differences Between American and British Spellings

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