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Infinitives and participles PRESENT PARTICIPLE AND GERUND SPELLING RULES

All present participles and gerunds are formed by adding
“-ing” to the base form of the verb. The spelling of some
Infinitives and participles are forms of verbs that See also: base forms changes slightly before adding “-ing.”
are rarely used on their own, but are important Present continuous 4 Last letters are
Last letter
consonant–vowel–consonant
when making other forms or constructions. Present perfect simple 11 Main verb. is a silent “-e.” Last letters and the final syllable is stressed.
are “-ie.”
INFINITIVES
The infinitive is the simplest form of the verb. English verbs have two types of infinitive.

Sometimes the infinitive is formed with “TO” VERB
“to” plus the verb. This is sometimes “-ing” is added to form The “-e” is left out “-ie” changes The last letter
known as a “full” or “to” infinitive. regular present participles. and “-ing” is added. to “y.” doubles, unless
it’s “w,” “x,” or “y.”

When the infinitive is formed “TO” BASE FORM
without “to,” it is known as the base
or simple form, or the bare infinitive. FURTHER EXAMPLES

The last letter is not doubled The last letter of the verb
because "per" is not stressed. doesn't double if it’s “y.”

PRESENT PARTICIPLES AND GERUNDS
Present participles and gerunds are formed by adding “-ing” to the base form of the verb. The last letter is doubled because the
They are spelled the same, but they perform different functions in a sentence. pattern is consonant–vowel–consonant. The “-e” is dropped from the verb.

Present participles are
most commonly used
with auxiliary verbs to PRESENT CONTINUOUS
form continuous tenses.

SUBJECT AUXILIARY VERB PRESENT PRINCIPLE OBJECT REST OF SENTENCE

The present participle is being used
to make the past continuous.

Gerunds are verbs that are used SUBJECT VERB COMPLEMENT
as nouns. They are sometimes
known as verbal nouns.

“Playing” is a gerund here. Along with
“tennis,” it forms the subject of the sentence.

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