PARTICIPLES

1. Participles are formed from verbs. English has two types participles: the Present Participle and the Past Participle. The Present Participle of the verb is formed by adding the suffix '-ing' to the base form of the verb: base form + '-ing'. We use the Present Participle along with a form of the verb 'to be' to create continuous (progressive) tenses.

2. Spelling rules for the formation of the Present Participle.

The general rule is: base form of the verb + '-ing':
work - working read - reading
go - going listen - listening
meet - meeting sleep - sleeping
enjoy - enjoying ski - skiing
grow - growing fix - fixing

If a one syllable verb ends in consonant + vowel + consonant double the final consonant and add '-ing':
run - running beg - begging
sit - sitting jog - jogging

If a verb has more than one syllable and ends in consonant + vowel + consonant, we double the final consonant only if the final syllable is stressed and add '-ing':
occur - occurring begin - beginning
admit - admitting refer - referring

When a verb ends in '-ic' we add '-k' and then '-ing':
picnic - picnicking panic - panicking

When a verb ends in '-l' the '-l' is doubled and '-ing' is added (in British English):
travel - travelling cancel - cancelling

When a verb ends in silent '-e', the silent '-e' is dropped and '-ing' is added:
close - closing move - moving
live - living have - having

When a verb ends in an '-e' which is not silent, the final '-e' is not dropped before the ending '-ing' is added:
be - being see - seeing

When a verb ends in '-ie', the '-ie' is changed to '-y' before the ending '-ing' is added:
die - dying lie - lying


3. The Present Participal can be also used as an ajective in front of a noun: a running boy, a crying baby, a dancing lady, etc.