Spelling rules for -s, -ed, -ing, -er and -est 📕

When we add an ending to a word, the spelling sometimes changes. These rules help you.

1. Consonant + y → i

Vowel + y does not change: play → plays, played.

2. Drop the silent -e

But keep the e before -s: makes, nicely.

3. Double the last consonant

In short words that end in one vowel + one consonant, we double the consonant:

Not with w, x or y: snowing, boxing, playing.

In longer words, we double only if the stress is on the last part: beGIN → beginning, but VISit → visiting.

4. Add -es after s, sh, ch, x, o

buses, washes, watches, fixes, goes