The Doubling Rule Worksheets
When a short word ends in one vowel plus one consonant, that last consonant doubles before -ing, -ed, or -er: run, running; hop, hopped; big, bigger. Second graders apply the rule and start hearing why it exists: the double letter keeps the vowel short.
By grade
What students need to know
A short-vowel word ending in one consonant doubles that letter before an ending that starts with a vowel, like -ing or -ed: run becomes running, hop becomes hopped.
This skill runs from 2nd grade through 3rd grade. Pick a grade above for level-matched sentences, teaching notes, and worksheets.
The Doubling Rule across the grades
2nd Grade
When a short word ends in one vowel plus one consonant, that last consonant doubles before -ing, -ed, or -er: run, running; hop, hopped; big, bigger. Second graders apply the rule and start hearing why it exists: the double letter keeps the vowel short.
3rd Grade
Third graders use the doubling rule automatically and handle the telling pairs where doubling changes the word entirely: hopped and hoped, tapped and taped, pinned and pined. Choosing by context shows the rule is about sound, not decoration.