Verb -ing Rules Worksheet
A Grade 6 ELA worksheet focusing on the rules for forming present participle (-ing) verbs, including common spelling changes.
Includes
Standards
Topics
Verb -ing Rules Practice
Name:
Date:
Score:
Read the instructions for each section carefully and complete the tasks. This worksheet focuses on the rules for adding '-ing' to verbs.
Understanding -ing Verb Forms
The '-ing' form of a verb is called the present participle. It's used in continuous tenses (e.g., I am reading) and can also act as an adjective (e.g., a running dog) or a noun (e.g., Running is good for you). There are a few important spelling rules to remember when adding '-ing':
Rule 1: Most verbs: Add '-ing' directly (e.g., play → playing)
Rule 2: Verbs ending in silent 'e': Drop the 'e' and add '-ing' (e.g., make → making)
Rule 3: Verbs ending in a single vowel + single consonant (CVC pattern) where the stress is on the last syllable: Double the last consonant and add '-ing' (e.g., run → running, swim → swimming). Do NOT double if the stress is not on the last syllable (e.g., open → opening) or if it ends in -w, -x, -y (e.g., fix → fixing).
Rule 4: Verbs ending in -ie: Change -ie to -y and add '-ing' (e.g., lie → lying)
Complete each sentence by writing the correct '-ing' form of the verb in parentheses.
1. She is a letter to her grandmother. (write)
2. The children were in the park all afternoon. (play)
3. My dad is dinner right now. (cook)
4. We saw him across the finish line. (run)
5. Are you to the party tonight? (come)
6. The baby is in her crib. (lie)
Choose the sentence that uses the correct '-ing' form of the verb.
1. Which sentence correctly uses the '-ing' form of 'swim'?
He is swiming in the pool.
He is swimming in the pool.
He is swimmeing in the pool.
He is swimmng in the pool.
Read each statement. Mark True if the '-ing' form is correct, and False if it is incorrect.
1. The '-ing' form of 'take' is 'taking'.
True
False
2. The '-ing' form of 'sit' is 'siting'.
True
False
Explain why the '-ing' form of 'stop' is 'stopping' but the '-ing' form of 'open' is 'opening'. Refer to the rules above in your explanation.
Use the verbs in the word bank to complete the sentences below. Make sure to change them to the correct '-ing' form.
1. My sister is a book about dinosaurs.
2. Grandma enjoys cookies for us.
3. Be careful when with scissors.
4. They are around the world this summer.