Doubling before an ending
Words with a short vowel double their last consonant before an ending; words with a long vowel do not. It is the difference between "hopping" and "hoping", and the vowel sound is the clue.
Example words
- hopping
- hoping
- running
- swimmer
- bigger
- sadder
- stopped
- writing
- shining
- forgetting
- beginning
- visited
When it's taught
From the National Curriculum for England (English Appendix 1):
Y2Adding -ing, -ed, -er, -est and -y to words of one syllable ending in a single consonant letter after a single vowel letter
Examples: patting, hopping, sunny
Y3 / 4Adding suffixes beginning with vowel letters to words of more than one syllable
Examples: forgetting, beginning, gardening
Practise this pattern
Dictation sentences
Read each one aloud and ask your child to write it down.
- We were hopping and skipping in the playground.
- She hoped the rain had stopped.
- He is the biggest swimmer in the club.
Quick check
Can they spell these without help?
- shopping
- taping
- sitting
- beginning
Keep going
- Year 2 spelling words - the statutory list with a free worksheet
- Year 3 and 4 spelling words - the statutory list with a free worksheet
- Printable spelling test sheet - for writing the words on paper
- Practise in Spelling.Live - add these words as a list, take a Skills Check, or play games built from them
Teaching this pattern
A short lesson idea with a starter, an activity, dictation sentences and words to check.DRAFT
Teaching guide