ING verbs are used in various verb tenses, including: the present continuous, the past continuous, the present perfect continuous and the past perfect continuous. We also use them after verbs related to our likes and dislikes.
We form ING verbs like this:
| VERB + ING | VERB WITHOUT E + ING | DOUBLE CONSONANT |
| WALKING
TALKING READING EATING PLAYING CHEWING |
WRITING
DANCING DIVING DRIVING BATHING RIDING |
RUNNING
SWIMMING PUTTING CUTTING GETTING CHATTING |
Normally, we just add ING to the bare infinitive of the verb, for instance: LISTEN + ING = LISTENING
We add ING to the verb as long as we have a consonant + vowel + consonant.
But if there is a short verb (one syllable) we need to double the consonants, for example SWIMMING.
UNLESS….
The verb ends in X: FIXING
The verb ends in Y: PLAYING
The verb ends in W: SCREWING
If the verb ends in an E we remove the E and + ING, for example: LIKE + ING = LIKING
ACTIVITY: DOWNLOAD IN PDF BELOW WITH ANSWERS
Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the ING verb:
- I like ________ (WATCH) TV in the evening.
- I am keen on ________ (READ) books at night.
- I love ________ (LISTEN) to music in the car.
- I enjoy ________ (PLAY) video games.
- I am fond of ________ (GO) to the cinema.
- I am interested in ________ (TALK) on the phone.
- I can’t stand ________ (SWIM) in the sea.
- I detest ________ (GET) bad grades at school.
- I am big on ________ (DANCE).
- I am crazy about ________ (RUN) in the park.
