There are four general spelling rules for adding inflections.
These are set out below:
1 Spelling rule 1.
Double the final consonant before adding -ed,-ing, -er or -est:
Verb +-ed +-ing
rub rubbed rubbing
stop stopped stopping
gag gagged gagging
jam jammed jamming
plan planned planning
occur occurred occurring
regret regretted regretting
Adjective +-er +-est
red redder reddest
big bigger biggest
grim grimmer grimmest
wet wetter wettest
• In British English, verbs ending in -el double the l :
travel travelled travelling
marvel marvelled marvelling
However, in American English, final l is not doubled:
travel traveled traveling
marvel marveled marveling
• Final l is not doubled when it follows a or o:
conceal concealed concealing
reveal revealed revealing
cool cooled cooling
• Final g is not doubled when it follows n:
strong stronger strongest
young younger youngest
2 Spelling rule 2.
Change final y to i before adding -s, -ed, -er or -est:
Verb +-s +-ed
cry cries cried
occupy occupies occupied
try tries tried
worry worries worried
Adjective +-er +-est
easy easier easiest
funny funnier funniest
heavy heavier heaviest
weary wearier weariest
Adverb +-er +-est
early earlier earliest
• If the final y follows a vowel, then it is retained:
convey conveys conveyed
delay delays delayed
play plays played
enjoy enjoys enjoyed
• The verbs lay, pay, and say do not take an -ed ending:
lay lays laid
pay pays paid
say says said
3 Spelling rule 3.
Drop silent e before adding -ed, -ing, -er, or -est:
Verb +-ed +-ing
care cared caring
change changed changing
hope hoped hoping
love loved loving
Adjective +-er +-est
blue bluer bluest
close closer closest
large larger largest
whitest whiter whitest
• If the base ends in ie, change ie to y before adding -ing:
die dying
lie lying
tie tying
• The e is retained in dyeing and canoeing.
4 Spelling rule 4.
Add e before -s if the base ends in one of the following:
s, sh, ch, tch, x or z:
Verb +s
pass passes
push pushes
teach teaches
catch catches
relax relaxes
buzz buzzes
Noun +s
mass masses
box boxes
church churches
match matches
wish wishes
quiz quizzes
On irregular noun plurals
These are set out below:
1 Spelling rule 1.
Double the final consonant before adding -ed,-ing, -er or -est:
Verb +-ed +-ing
rub rubbed rubbing
stop stopped stopping
gag gagged gagging
jam jammed jamming
plan planned planning
occur occurred occurring
regret regretted regretting
Adjective +-er +-est
red redder reddest
big bigger biggest
grim grimmer grimmest
wet wetter wettest
• In British English, verbs ending in -el double the l :
travel travelled travelling
marvel marvelled marvelling
However, in American English, final l is not doubled:
travel traveled traveling
marvel marveled marveling
• Final l is not doubled when it follows a or o:
conceal concealed concealing
reveal revealed revealing
cool cooled cooling
• Final g is not doubled when it follows n:
strong stronger strongest
young younger youngest
2 Spelling rule 2.
Change final y to i before adding -s, -ed, -er or -est:
Verb +-s +-ed
cry cries cried
occupy occupies occupied
try tries tried
worry worries worried
Adjective +-er +-est
easy easier easiest
funny funnier funniest
heavy heavier heaviest
weary wearier weariest
Adverb +-er +-est
early earlier earliest
• If the final y follows a vowel, then it is retained:
convey conveys conveyed
delay delays delayed
play plays played
enjoy enjoys enjoyed
• The verbs lay, pay, and say do not take an -ed ending:
lay lays laid
pay pays paid
say says said
3 Spelling rule 3.
Drop silent e before adding -ed, -ing, -er, or -est:
Verb +-ed +-ing
care cared caring
change changed changing
hope hoped hoping
love loved loving
Adjective +-er +-est
blue bluer bluest
close closer closest
large larger largest
whitest whiter whitest
• If the base ends in ie, change ie to y before adding -ing:
die dying
lie lying
tie tying
• The e is retained in dyeing and canoeing.
4 Spelling rule 4.
Add e before -s if the base ends in one of the following:
s, sh, ch, tch, x or z:
Verb +s
pass passes
push pushes
teach teaches
catch catches
relax relaxes
buzz buzzes
Noun +s
mass masses
box boxes
church churches
match matches
wish wishes
quiz quizzes
On irregular noun plurals
