Double Trouble

There are several situations where we double the last letter of verbs and adjectives before adding a suffix. This happens with words that end in consonant-vowel-consonant.

For example, we double the last consonant of these verbs in the past participle form of regular verbs, as well as in the gerund verb form.

stop à stopping, stopped

star à starring, starred

swim à swimming

This also occurs with comparative and superlative adjectives.

fat à fatter, fattest

thin à thinner, thinnest

sad à sadder, saddest

This can often happen when we change actions (verbs) into people (nouns) with an –er suffix.

run à runner
rob à robber

begin à beginner