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Year 6

Using the suffix -ing to form the progressive tense

I can apply spelling rules to spell words with the suffix -ing.

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New
New
Year 6

Using the suffix -ing to form the progressive tense

I can apply spelling rules to spell words with the suffix -ing.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Link copied to clipboard

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. If the root word contains a short vowel sound, double the consonant and add the suffix -ing.
  2. If the root word ends in 'y', just add the suffix -ing.
  3. If the root word is a verb that ends in 'e', remove the 'e' and add the suffix -ing.
  4. There are specific rules for words containing the stressed or unstressed 'fer' spelling.
  5. How to spell the curriculum words: appreciate, curiosity.

Keywords

  • Suffix - a letter or group of letters added to the end of a root word

  • Progressive tense - denotes ongoing action

  • Root word - the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes

  • Vowel sound - the specific sound produced by a vowel when pronounced

  • Stressed - an emphasised sound

Common misconception

Many pupils misspell words with multiple syllables when choosing to double or not double the consonant.

Start off with simple examples of the rule, using single syllable words with short vowels to secure the doubling first, before moving on to multisyllabic words. Focus on the most commonly used words first.


To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Using the suffix -ing to form the progressive tense, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

If children need to develop their related grammar knowledge, look at the grammar unit 'Three tense forms, modality, active voice and passive voice' in Year 6.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What rule is being used when the word 'rake' becomes 'raking' when adding the suffix -ing?
Just add -ing.
Keep the 'y' and add -ing.
Correct answer: Remove the ‘e’ and add -ing.
Double the consonant and add -ing.
Q2.
What rule is being used when the word 'scurry' becomes 'scurrying' when adding the suffix -ing?
Correct answer: Keep the 'y' and add -ing.
Remove the ‘e’ and add -ing.
Double the consonant and add -ing.
Q3.
Match the root words to the corresponding verbs with the suffix -ing.
Correct Answer:cry,crying

crying

Correct Answer:make,making

making

Correct Answer:give,giving

giving

Correct Answer:study,studying

studying

Q4.
Select all the words containing the suffix -ing.
Correct answer: swimming
single
finger
Correct answer: playing
Correct answer: occupying
Q5.
Match the verbs to the rule they use when the suffix -ed is added.
Correct Answer:group - grouped,Just add -ed.

Just add -ed.

Correct Answer:fry - fried,Remove the ‘y’ and add -ied.

Remove the ‘y’ and add -ied.

Correct Answer:place - placed,Remove the ‘e’ and add -ed.

Remove the ‘e’ and add -ed.

Correct Answer:stop - stopped,Double the consonant and add -ed.

Double the consonant and add -ed.

Q6.
Match these words with the words that share the same root word.
Correct Answer:matched,matching

matching

Correct Answer:walked,walking

walking

Correct Answer:hurried,hurrying

hurrying

Correct Answer:smiled,smiling

smiling

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What rule is being used when the word 'deter' becomes 'deterring' when adding the suffix -ing?
Just add -ing.
Remove the 'e' and add -ing.
Correct answer: Double the consonant and add -ing.
Q2.
What rule is being used when the word 'equip' becomes 'equipping' when adding the suffix -ing?
Just add -ing.
Remove the 'e' and add -ing.
Correct answer: Double the consonant and add -ing.
Q3.
What rule is being used when the word 'occupy' becomes 'occupying' when adding the suffix -ing?
Correct answer: Just add -ing.
Remove the 'e' and add -ing.
Double the consonant and add -ing.
Q4.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'She is explayning how to solve the problem.'
Correct Answer: explaining
Q5.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'How are you grooping your cards?'
Correct Answer: grouping
Q6.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'My brother was ocyoopying the bathroom for way too long.'
Correct Answer: occupying

Additional material

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