Rules for endings s / es / -ies in English

Learning English requires understanding the principles of using the endings “s”, “es”,  “ies”. The value of learning the rules for the endings -s, -es and -ies in English is to be able to correctly express the tenses, numbers and form of nouns and verbs used in the English language. Understanding these rules helps to speak correctly, write and communicate without mistakes in English. Learning these rules is key to improving your skills in learning and using English in different contexts. Let’s consider the basic rules for using the endings s, es and ies in the English language.

Basic rules for -s/,  -es/,  -ies/

Ending -s/-es:

• Nouns: For most nouns ending in -th, -s is added.
• Verbs: Most verbs do not have the -s ending in singular, but they can have it if the sentence is related to the third person singular in Present Simple.
• Nouns: -es is added for nouns ending in -s, -ss, -x, -z, -ch, -sh.
• Nouns: For nouns ending in -o preceded by a consonant, -s is used. If there is a consonant before -o, -es is used. The rule for using -s or -es with nouns ending in -o has many exceptions. Most words with -o following a consonant take -es in the plural, but there are exceptions (pianos, photos).
• Nouns: -s is added for singular nouns ending in a vowel + “y” preceded by a vowel.
• Verbs: -s is added for singular verbs ending in a vowel + “y” preceded by a vowel.

Ending -ies:

• Nouns: -ies is added for singular nouns that end in a vowel + “y” and are preceded by a consonant letter.
• Verbs: -ies is added for singular verbs that end in a vowel + “y” and are preceded by a consonant letter.

Other important rules:

• Verbs: The verbs to have and to be do not change for the third person singular.
• Verbs: Modal verbs such as Can, Must, Should, Ought to, May, Will, Need always remain the same in singular and plural and are independent of person.
• Nouns: Some of the countable nouns have irregular plural forms, some nouns are used only in singular or plural.

Exceptions to the rules for -s/,  -es/,  -ies/

The rules for using the endings s, es, and ies in English are important, but it’s also important to note the exceptions that sometimes occur. Here are some important exceptions:

Exceptions for ending -s:

• Some nouns, such as “bus” and “news”, remain unchanged in the plural form and are used only in the singular.
• Some verbs, such as “have” and “be”, also remain unchanged for all persons in the singular form.

Exceptions for ending -es:

• Some nouns, such as “axis”, “crisis”, and “thesis”, remain unchanged in the plural form and are used only in the singular.

Exceptions for ending -ies:

• Sometimes in English there are nouns that end in a vowel + “y” preceded by a consonant, but they do not change according to the rules of ending -ies. For example, “journey” remains unchanged in the plural form and is used as “journeys.”

These exceptions should be kept in mind because they do not fall under the general rules and can lead to misunderstandings if they are used incorrectly. Now let’s take a closer look at some aspects of using endings with examples.

An overview of the use of the -s ending in English with examples

The ending -s in English is used in various situations to form the plural form, the possessive form, and for the third person singular of verbs. Here is a detailed overview of the use of the -s ending:

1. Plural form for nouns:

To form the plural of countable nouns, add -s. For example: cat – cats, dog – dogs.

2. Possessive form for nouns:

To create the possessive form of nouns, add an apostrophe and -s. For example: John’s book, the cat’s tail, The girl’s coat.

3. Third person singular verbs (Present Simple):

In the Present Simple tense, third person singular (He, She, It) verbs take the -s ending. For example: He eats , She works.

4. Use of -s in expressions and contractions:

The -s ending is used in contractions and expressions, such as “Let’s” and “it’s”.

5. Nouns ending in -th that take the -s ending in the plural:

The -s ending can be applied to nouns ending in -th in their plural form. For instance: Truth -> Truths, Cloth -> Cloths.

6. Nouns ending in -o preceded by a consonant:

Nouns ending in -o preceded by a consonant form their plurals by adding -s. For example: Mango -> Mangos, Photo -> Photos. However, there are exceptions to this rule for certain -o ending nouns, like “pianos” and “photos.”

7. Singular nouns ending in a vowel + “y”:

Singular nouns ending in a vowel + “y,” with a vowel before it, form their plurals by adding -s. For instance: Toy -> Toys, Key -> Keys.

8. Singular verbs ending in a vowel + “y”:

Singular verbs ending in a vowel + “y,” with a vowel before it, form their plurals by adding -s. For example: Play  -> Plays, Enjoy -> Enjoys.

Understanding the rules of using the -s ending in English is crucial for proper communication and enhancing speaking skills. Additionally, it is vital for comprehending texts and maintaining grammatical accuracy in your own expressions.

An overview of the use of the -es ending in English with examples

The ending -es in English is used in several important cases and is additional to the basic rules for using the ending -s. Here is a detailed overview of situations where the -es ending is used:

1. Plural form for nouns:

The -es ending is used after consonants to form the plural of certain nouns ending in -s, -x, -z, -sh, -ch. For example: box – boxes, dish – dishes.

2. Third person singular verbs (Present Simple):

In the Present Simple tense, for the third person singular (He, She, It), verbs end in -es. This applies to verbs ending in -s, -x, -z, -sh, -ch. For example: She washes, He fixes.

4. -es ending in irregular verbs:

Some irregular verbs also take the -es ending in certain tense forms. For example: go – goes, do – does.

5. Adding -es after specific -o sounds:

• tomato → tomatoes
• hero → heroes
• potato → potatoes

6. Adding -es to select words ending in -y, provided there is a consonant before the sound:

• city → cities
• party → parties
• story → stories

An overview of the use of the ending -ies in English with examples

The ending -ies in English is used to form the plural form of some nouns that end in a consonant + “y”. This rule is an important aspect of English grammar and includes the following cases:

1. Plural form for nouns:

• The ending -ies is used to form the plural form of some nouns that have the following structure: consonant + “y.” Examples:
  • baby → babies
  • city → cities
  • lady → ladies

2. Use of the ending -ies in the Present Simple for the third person singular:

• The ending -ies is also used in the Present Simple for the third person singular (He, She, It) when describing regular actions or facts. Example:
  • She studies English every day

3. Replacing -y with -ies in the third person singular of verbs ending in -y after consonants:

• study → studies
• try → tries
• fly → flies

Exceptions with endings s / es / -ies with examples

There are several peculiarities regarding the use of the -s ending that do not follow the usual rules. In various cases, this applies to both nouns and verbs.

Noun Features:

Irregular Nouns: Some countable nouns have irregular plural forms that do not follow the usual rules. For example:

• Mouse  -> Mice
• Man  -> Men

Nouns with Identical Forms: Some nouns have the same form for both singular and plural. This applies to things counted in hypothetical units. For example:

• Deer (singular and plural)

Verb Features:

Third Person Singular Forms of “to have” and “to be”: Some verbs, specifically “to have” and “to be”, do not change their form for the third person singular. For example:

• He has
• She is

Modal Verbs: Modal verbs, such as “Can”, “Must”, “Should”, “Ought to”, “May”, “Will” , “Need”, never change their form based on the person. For example:

• She can
• He shoul

These exceptions complement the general rules for using the -s ending and help to understand exceptional cases in English. Knowing these exceptions helps to learn and use English correctly and understandably in different language situations.

Exercises to test knowledge using endings – s, -es and -ies

We offer several exercises for self-testing the use of the endings s, es and ies in the English language. After each exercise, the correct answer is indicated.

Exercise 1: Form the plural form for nouns.

1. Cat
2. Watch
3. Dish
4. City
5. Baby

Answer:

1. Cats
2. Watches
3. Dishes
4. Cities
5. Babies

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the verbs for the third person singular (Present Simple).

1. She (work) ________________ every day.
2. He (study) ________________ English.
3. It (fix) ________________ the problem.
4. The dog (bark) ________________ loudly.

Answer:

1. She works every day.
2. He studies English.
3. It fixes the problem.
4. The dog barks loudly.

Exercise 3: Form the correct plural form for nouns ending in -y.

1. Party
2. Story
3. Country
4. Baby

Answer:

1. Parties
2. Stories
3. Countries
4. Babies

Exercise 4: Correct the mistakes in the following sentences, if any.

1. He teachs English.
2. The kids play with theys toys.
3. This car needs new tire’s.
4. She sings in a band with some really talanted musicians.
5. My mum made delicious cookie’s.

Answer:

1. He teaches English.
2. The kids play with their toys.
3. This car needs new tires.
4. She sings in a band with some really talented musicians.
5. My mum made delicious cookies.

These exercises will help you test your understanding of the rules for using the endings s, es and ies in English. The ending -ies in English is used to form the plural form and in some grammatical tenses, including the Present Simple for the third person singular. Understanding the rules for using this ending and practicing its use will help improve your level of English. Learning and using the rules will help you communicate more easily and become more confident in this aspect of the language.