Spelling ESL tutorial by Melanie Barriere Cegep de Granby, Quebec

Verbs ending in –e: -ing form Drop the -e -ed form add –d (the ‘e’ is already there) Love Loveing loved Telephone Telephoning Telephoned Date Dating Dated Stare Staring Stared Spelling of –ed /-ing verb forms

-ing form -ed form Star 1 syll + CVC = double letter Starring Starred Stop Stopping Stopped Knit Knitting Knitted Walk 1 syll, no CVC ending  don’t double it. Walking Walked 1-syllable verb + CVC ending (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant)  double the last letter; otherwise, don’t.  double the last letter; otherwise, don’t. Spelling of –ed /-ing verb forms

-ing form -ed form Commit « comMIT » Prefer « preFER » 2 syll., CVC ending, stress on the last syllable  double the letter. Committing Preferring Committed Preferred Visit « VIsit » pronounced as VIsit, stress isn’t at the end, so don’t double the letter. Produce « proDUCE » final stress but no CVC, so don’t double the letter. Just drop the –e before –ing. Visiting Producing Visited Produced 2-syllable verbs : 3 conditions are needed to double the letter: 3 conditions are needed to double the letter: 2 syllables + ending in CVC + stress on the last syllable. Otherwise, don’t double it. Spelling of –ed /-ing verb forms

-ing form -ed form Plow Enjoy (ending in vowel + y/w  no change.) Plowing Enjoying Plowed Enjoyed Carry (ending in consonant + y  …) Carrying Carried (change y for i) Lie (ending in -ie  …) Lying (change i for y) Lied Verbs ending in –y, –w, or -ie: Verbs ending in –y, –w, or -ie: Spelling of –ed /-ing verb forms

Practice it! More exercises here: (explanations) (explanations) -ing-ed Smoke Stop Refer Offer Visit Omit-ing-edReply Enjoy Worry Carry Tie Study-ing-edBegin Happen Mention Plan Star Stare Spelling of –ed /-ing verb forms

Practice it more! Now spell the –ing and –ed forms of these regular verbs: Remember that irregular verbs are another story! Remember that irregular verbs are another story! Leave  left, not *leaved! Leave  left, not *leaved! Spelling of –ed /-ing verb forms

Spelling -ei form -ie form Receive Friend Weight Believe Neighbour Relief Deceive Grief –ei or –ie ? Always –ie except after C or when sounding like « ey » Trick: cei  c and e have a similar round shape … there are a few exceptions, tough.

Spelling –ei or –ie ? Practice it here : …or Google « ie ei spelling quiz » for more.

Spelling: prefix / suffix Double the letter or not? Rule: simply glue the prefix or suffix to the word! un + necessary = unnecessary (2 n’s) dis + respectful = disrespectful (1 s, 1 r) il + legible = illegible (2 l’s) im + mature = immature (2 m’s) respectful + ly = respectfully (2 l’s) definite + ly = definitely (keep the –e) normal + ly = normally(2 l’s) separate + ly= separately(keep the –e) How easy! …there are a few exceptions, of course.

ESL tutorial by Melanie Barriere Cegep de Granby, Quebec Google “ed ing spelling exercise” “ei ie spelling quiz”, etc. for more exercises, quizzes, explanations, etc. Practice makes perfect… :o) Good luck! Spelling