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When a verb of more than one syllable ends in a single consonant other than w, x or ypreceded by a single vowel, the final consonant is doubled to form the presentparticiple only when the last syllable of the verb is pronounced with the heaviest stress.For instance, in the followi ng examples, the last syllables of the verbs have the heavieststress, and the final consonants are doubled to form the present participles. In theseexamples, the syllables pronounced with the heaviest stress are underlined. Forexample:Infinitiveto exto beginto occurto omitPresent ParticipleexpellingbeginningoccurringomittingWhen a verb of more than one syllable ends in w, x or y, the final consonant is notdoubled before the ending ing is added. In the following examples, the syllablespronounced with the heaviest stress are underlined. For example:Infinitiveto allowto affixto conveyPresent ParticipleallowingaffixingconveyingWhen the last syllable of a verb is not pronounced with the heaviest stress, the finalconsonant is usually not doubled to form the present participle. For instance, in thefollowing examples, the last syllables of the verbs do not have the heaviest stress, andthe final consonants are not doubled to form the present participles. In these examples,the syllables pronounced with the heaviest stress are underlined. For example:Infinitiveto listento orderto focusto limitPresent ParticiplelisteningorderingfocusinglimitingIf necessary, a dictionary can be consulted to determine which syllable of a verb hasthe heaviest stress. Many dictionaries use symbols such as apostrophes to indicate whichsyllables are pronounced with the heaviest stress.See Exercise 4.It should be noted that British and American spelling rules differ for verbs which end ina single I preceded by a single vowel. In British spelling, the I is always doubled beforethe endi ngs i ng and edare added. However, in American spelling, verbs ending with a single I follow the samerule as other verbs; the I is doubled only when the last syllable has the heaviest stress.In the following examples, the syllables with the heaviest stress are underlined. Forexample: