9.2: Spelling-Adding -s or-es (Plural Nouns and Simple Present Tense)

ESOL Intermediate Grammar · LibreTexts

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    Appendix 2 

    Spelling: Adding -s and -es

    We add -s and -es for two reasons:

    1. The word is a noun, and we make it plural.

    Examples

    table → tables

    chair → chairs

    2. The word is a verb, and it agrees with the subject (he, she, or it–3rd person singular)

    Examples

    I wait → she waits

    they cook → he cooks

    Rule 1:

    If a word ends in /s/, /z/, /ch/, /sh/ or /x/ sound → add -es

    Only add -es for the he/she/it form of the verb (third person singular).

    Examples \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    watch → watches

    wash → washes

    kiss → kisses

    I pass out papers. → She passes out papers.

    I wash the dishes. → He washes the dishes.

    Rule 2:

    If a word ends in a consonant plus -y, change -y to i and add -es. If the word ends in a vowel plus -y, just add -s.

    Examples

    Consonant + -y

    Change -y to i and add -es

    cry → cries

    study → studies

    Vowel + -y

    Add -s

    pay → pays

    buy → buys

    Rule 3:

    After the letter o. The spelling depends on the origin of the word.

    Examples

    We add the plural suffix –es to most words that end in o.

    • tomato → tomatoes
    • hero → heroes

    We add the plural suffix –s to words of foreign origin (Latin, Greek, Spanish, etc.)

    • piano → pianos
    • photo → photos
    • video → videos

     

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