English Spelling – When to Double Consonants (swimming, stopped, etc.)

In this English Video Lesson Alex is teaching the rules for doubling consonants at the end of the words. Study this lesson and you’d never have any problems in writing these words.

This lesson provides the rules of doubling consonants for one- or two-syllable words when forming the comparative (ending with “er”), superlative (ending with “est”), progressive (ending with “ing”) or past (ending with “ed”) forms.

1) CVC rule for one-syllable words

When a one-syllable word ends with consonant-vowel-consonant (so-called CVC pattern) then you have to double the last consonant.

Examples:

stop – stopped (past form)

drip – dripping (progressive form)

big – biggest (superlative form)

2) Stress rule for two-syllable words

– If the stress is on the first syllable, you don’t have to double the last letter.

Examples:

enter – entering (progressive)

exit – exited (past)

– If the stress is on the second (or last) syllable, you have to double the last letter.

Examples:

admit – admitting (progressive)

begin – beginning (progressive)

3) There is one specific exception to this rule.

In case you have the patter of letters “Qu” + vowel + consonant, you also have to double the last letter. This is because the “Qu” combination is actually pronounced like “kw”, making the word comply with the CVC rule.

Examples:

quit – quitting (progressive)

equip – equipped (past)