The CVC Rule

Doubling the final consonant when adding –ing –er –ed –est at the end
of a word

The following one-syllable words end in CVC

consonant / vowel / consonant

base form + ing er ed est

run running runner

skip skipping skipper skipped
swim swimming swimmer
prod prodding prodder prodded
slug slugging slugger slugged
bar barring barred
big bigger biggest
quit quitting quitter quitted

exception: never double “w, x, y”

show showing showed

mix mixing mixer mixed
pay paying payer payed
If you are adding the same endings to more-than-one-syllable words
ending in CVC, double the last letter ONLY if the stress is on the last
syllable

base form + ing er ed est

begin beginning beginner

o o
prefer preferring preferred
o o
repel repelling repeller repelled
o o
equip equipping equipper equipped
o o
BUT: equipment double only if you add a vowel suffix
no doubling if you add a consonant suffix

forgot forgotten double because vowel suffix

o o

listen listening listener listened

o o
offer offering offerer offered
o o
target targeting targeted
o o
travel traveling traveler traveled (US)
o o travelling traveller travelled (UK)

develop developing developer developed

o o o
 Let’s practice!

Add –ing / -ed to the following verbs... do you double the final
consonant?

abandon_____
admit_____
begin_____
commit_____
control_____
expect_____
explain_____
forget_____
garden____
handicap_____
happen_____
hit_____
hope_____
occur_____
offer_____
omit_____
open_____
regret_____
remember_____
ride_____
stay_____
swim_____
visit_____

Circle the correctly spelled word:

1. "I don't think Julie's very commited/committed to her school work,"

said her mother.
"I don't agree," said the teacher, "I feel that she's shown a great deal of
commitment/committment this year."

2. Dave submited/submitted his enrolment/enrollment form two days

after the closing date.

3. Nathan and Kim admited/admitted they had forgoten/forgotten their

homework assignments.

4. "Let's begin at the begining/beginning," said the detective.

5. Part of the marketing/marketting manager's job involved

budgeting/budgetting for the advertising schedule.

6. Sandy regreted/regretted not ordering/orderring the very latest

equipment/equippment. He had omited/omitted to consider the
efficiency savings and now realized that his business could have been
much more profitable/profittable.

7. The security guard patroled/patrolled the fence, prefering/preferring

to stay awake by keeping busy.

8. Refering/referring to the boss by her Christian name was strictly

forbiden/forbidden.