The -ing form appears in all continuous tenses (I am reading, they were sleeping) and as the gerund, a verb used like a noun (Swimming is fun; I like reading). Spelling: a silent -e drops (make → making), a stressed short vowel doubles the final consonant (run → running, stop → stopping), and -ie turns into -y (die → dying).
When to use it
Actions happening now
He is reading a book right now.
He is reading a book right now.
Actions in progress in the past
They were sleeping when I called.
They were sleeping when I called.
Gerund (verb as a noun)
Swimming keeps you healthy.
Swimming keeps you healthy.
Regular endings
| + -ing | work → working |
| -e → -ing | make → making |
| doubling | run → running |
| -ie → -y | die → dying |
Irregular verbs
Final consonant doubles
Silent -e drops
-ie → -y
Frequently asked
The -ing form appears in all continuous tenses (I am reading, they were sleeping) and as the gerund, a verb used like a noun (Swimming is fun; I like reading). Spelling: a silent -e drops (make → making), a stressed short vowel doubles the final consonant (run → running, stop → stopping), and -ie turns into -y (die → dying). The main cases are actions happening now, actions in progress in the past and gerund (verb as a noun). For example: He is reading a book right now. — He is reading a book right now..
Regular verbs take: + -ing → working; -e → -ing → making; doubling → running; -ie → -y → dying.
The most common ones are be, have, do, say, go, get, make and know. Each has its own conjugation table with the full set of forms.
No. The present participle sits at A1 — Beginner, which is free to practise.
Every verb form becomes a card that comes back right before you would forget it.
