1. Adding –s, -es, -ing and -ed
Spelling Rules
Adding –s, -es, -ing and -ed

2. Consonants: all other letters
Vowels: a, e, i, o, u
Consonants: all other letters
Vowels and Consonants

3. Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es
1. For most third-person singular (he, she, it) verbs and for plural nouns, add –s to the simple form:
Verb: swim
swims
Noun: lake
lakes
Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es

4. Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es
2. If the simple form ends with the letters s, z, sh, ch, or x, add –es.
Verb: miss
misses
Noun: box
boxes
Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es

5. Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es
3. If the simple form ends with a consonant + y, change y to I and add –es:
Verb: try
tries
Noun: baby
babies
Vowel + Y, add -s: toytoys
Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es

6. Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es
4. If the simple form ends with a consonant + o, add –s or –es. Some words take –s:
autoautos
photophotos
pianopianos
solosolos
Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es

7. Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es
4. If the simple form ends with a consonant + o, add –s or –es. Some words take –es:
dodoes
echoechoes
gogoes
heroheroes
potatopotatoes
tomatotomatoes
Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es

8. Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es
4. If the simple form ends with a consonant + o, add –s or –es. Some words take both –s or –es:
tornado tornados or tornadoes
volcano volcanos or volcanoes
zero zeros or zeroes
Vowel + o: radioradios, zoozoos
Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es

9. Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es
5. If the simple form ends in a single f or fe, change the f or fe to v and add-es.
knife
knives
shelf
shelves
Exceptions: beliefbeliefs, chiefchiefs, roofroofs, hoofhooves, scarfscarfs or scarves
Spelling of Verbs and Nouns in –s and -es

10. Spelling of Verbs ending in -ing
1. For most verbs, add –ing to the simple form of the verb.
sleep
sleeping
talk
talking
Spelling of Verbs ending in -ing

11. Spelling of Verbs ending in -ing
2. If the simple form ends in a single e, drop the e and add – ing.
live
living
write
writing
Spelling of Verbs ending in -ing

12. Spelling of Verbs ending in -ing
3. If the simple form ends in ie, change the ie to y and add – ing.
die
dying
lie
lying
Spelling of Verbs ending in -ing

13. Spelling of Verbs ending in -ing
4. If the simple form of a one- syllable verb ends in a single vowel + consonant, double the final consonant and add –ing.
hit
hitting
stop
stopping
Compare to two vowels + consonant: eatingeating
Spelling of Verbs ending in -ing

14. Spelling of Verbs ending in -ing
5. If the simple form of a verb with two or more syllables ends in a single vowel + consonant, double the final consonant if the stress is on the final syllable. Do not double the final consonant if the stress is not on the final syllable:
admit
admitting
begin
beginning
develop
developing
listen
listening
NOTE: the final l is always doubled in British English, but not in American English.
traveltravelling or traveling
Spelling of Verbs ending in -ing

15. Spelling of Verbs ending in -ing
6. Do not double the final consonants x, w, and y:
fix
fixing
obey
obeying
Spelling of Verbs ending in -ing

16. Spelling of Verbs ending in -ed
1. To form the simple past and V3 of most regular verbs, add – ed to the simple form.
brush
brushed
play
played
Spelling of Verbs ending in -ed

17. Spelling of Verbs ending in -ed
2. If the simple form ends with –e, just add d.
race
raced
trade
traded
Spelling of Verbs ending in -ed

18. Spelling of Verbs ending in -ed
3. If the simple form ends with a consonant + y, change the y to I and add -ed.
bury
buried
dry
dried
Compare with vowel + y: play/played, enjoy/enjoyed
Spelling of Verbs ending in -ed

19. Spelling of Verbs ending in -ed
4. If the simple form of a one- syllable verb ends with a single vowel + consonant, double the final consonant and add -ed.
plan
planned
shop
shopped
Spelling of Verbs ending in -ed

20. Spelling of Verbs ending in -ed
5. If the simple form of a verb with two or more syllables ends in a single vowel + consonant, double the final consonant and add –ed only when the stress is on the final syllable. Do not double the final consonant if the stress is not on the final syllable.
prefer
preferred
enter
entered
The final l is always doubled in British English, but not in American English:
travel travel or travelled
Spelling of Verbs ending in -ed

21. Spelling of Verbs ending in -ed
6. Do not double the final consonants x, w and y.
coax
coaxed
snow
snowed
stay
stayed
Spelling of Verbs ending in -ed