THIRD PERSON S SIMPLE PRESENT

Some verbs change their spelling when s is added in the third person singular.
a.

Verbs

ending

in

The English letters a, e, i, o and u are generally referred to as vowels. The other English letters
are generally referred to as consonants.
When a verb ends in y immediately preceded by a consonant, the y is changed to ie before the
ending s is added. In each of the following examples, the consonant immediately preceding the
final y is underlined.
Bare Infinitive

Third Person Singular

study

studies

fly

flies

carry

carries

However, when a verb ends in y immediately preceded by a vowel, the y is not changed before
the ending s is added. In each of the following examples, the vowel immediately preceding the
final y is underlined.
Bare Infinitive

Third Person Singular

say

says

enjoy

enjoys

buy

buys

b.

Verbs

ending

in

When a verb ends in o, the letter e is added before the s ending. For example:
Bare Infinitive

Third Person Singular

do

does

echo

echoes

go

goes

c.

Verbs

ending

in

ch,

s,

sh,

or

When a verb ends in a sibilant sound such as ch, s, sh, x or z, the letter e is added before
the s ending. For example:
Bare Infinitive

Third Person Singular

pass

passes

push

pushes

watch

watches

fix

fixes

buzz

buzzes

Spelling Rules -ING

The following is a guide to the correct spelling of ing forms of verbs and gerunds.
The general rule when changing a verb into its -ING form is just to add -ING to the end of the
verb.

Infinitive

ING form

to feel

feeling

to go

going

to work

working

to sleep

sleeping

She wasn't feeling very well.

He is working on a new project.

The children are sleeping so be quiet.

Spelling exceptions
The following exceptions exist when spelling words ending in ING:
1). If the verb ends in an E we remove the E and add ING.

Infinitive

ING form

to live

living

to have

having

to make

making

to take

taking

People are living longer now than they were 100 years ago.

We are making a chocolate cake.

He was taking his time to get ready.

2). If the verb ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant, we double the final consonant and
add ING.

Infinitive

ING form

to stop

stopping

to sit

sitting

to plan

planning

to get

getting

to swim

swimming

The policeman is stopping the traffic.

We are planning a surprise party for our teacher.

I think I am getting a cold.

3). If a two-syllable verb ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant, we do not double the final
consonant when the stress is on the first syllable.

Infinitive

ING form

to happen

happening

to enter

entering

to offer

offering

to suffer

suffering

What is happening?

They are offering a discount.

Many people are suffering from a lack of food and water.

4). But, we do not double the final consonant when the verb ends in W, X or Y or when the final
syllable is not emphasized.

Infinitive

ING form

to fix

fixing

to enjoy

enjoying

to snow

snowing

He fixing his bike.

We are enjoying this great weather.

It's snowing outside.

5). If the verb ends in IE we change it to YING.

Infinitive

ING form

to lie

lying

to die

dying

to tie

tying

I know you are lying to me!

You should water your plant more because I think it is dying.

The little boy is tying his shoelaces.

6). If the verb ends in consonant + vowel + L, we normally double the final L and add ING.
Note: In the United States (US) they do not double the L when the accent is on the first
syllable.

ING form

ING form

(UK)

(US)

to travel

travelling

traveling

to marvel

marvelling

marveling

Infinitive

I have been travelling around South America for 6 months.

He was marvelling at her beauty.

7). If the verb ends in a stressed vowel + R, we double the final R and add ING.

Infinitive

ING form

refer

referring

defer

deferring

Are you referring to this one or that one?

They are thinking of deferring payment of their mortgage.

8). If the verb ends in an unstressed vowel + R, we do not double the final R and add ING.

Infinitive

ING form

to offer

offering

to suffer

suffering

to whisper

whispering

I am offering you a special deal.

He is now suffering the consequences of his actions.

I wonder what he is whispering in her ear.

Spelling -ED Ending Rules

The following is a guide to the correct spelling of words ending -ED.

Remember: Not all words that end in -ED are verbs in the past tense. Sometimes they are Past
Participles or they could even be Adjectives ending in -ED. For now we will mostly use verbs in
the Past Tense as examples though the same rules apply to all words ending in -ED
The general rule when changing a word (or verb) into its -ED form is just to add -ED to the end
of it.

Infinitive

ED form

to play

played

to wait

waited

to work

worked

to rain

rained

He played with his dog in the backyard.

I waited for them to invite me.

She worked until late last night.

It rained all day.

Spelling Exceptions
The following exceptions exist when spelling words ending in ED:
1). If a word ends in an E we just add the D to the end.

Infinitive

ED form

to live

lived

to love

loved

to smile

smiled

to dance

danced

I lived in Japan for two years and then moved to Thailand.

I loved the surprise you had for me.

He smiled when he saw his wife come through the door.

They danced until their feet hurt.

2). If the word ends in a Consonant + Vowel + Consonant, we double the final consonant and
add ED.

Infinitive

ED form

to stop

stopped

to admit

admitted

to plan

planned

to refer

referred

to commit

committed

The policeman stopped the thief from escaping.

He admitted that he was wrong.

We planned a surprise birthday party for our friend.

I referred the students to the website where they could practice some more.

They committed a serious crime and will end up in jail.

3). If a two-syllable verb ends in a Consonant + Vowel + Consonant, we DO NOT double the
final consonant when the stress is on the FIRST syllable.

Infinitive

ED form

to happen

happened

to enter

entered

to offer

offered

to suffer

suffered

What happened?

I entered through the back door.

She was offered a new position with a higher salary.

Many people are suffered from a lack of food and water.

4). BUT, we DO NOT double the final consonant when the word ends in W, X or Y or when the
final syllable is not stressed.

Infinitive

ED form

to fix

fixed

to enjoy

enjoyed

to snow

snowed

He fixed his bike.

We enjoyed our time in the North of Chile.

It snowed yesterday.

5). If the verb ends in consonant + vowel + L, we normally double the final L and add ED.
Note: In the United States (US) they DO NOT double the L when the accent is on the first
syllable.

ED form

ED form

(UK)

(US)

to travel

travelled

traveled

to marvel

marveled

marveled

Infinitive

I traveled around South America in 2012.

Her beauty marveled us.