SPELLING RULES
(Third person singular / Present Simple)
a. Verbs ending in y
When a verb ends in a consonant + y, the y is changed to i, and the ending –es is added. Let’s see some examples:
|
Bare Infinitive |
Third Person Singular |
|
try |
tri + es = tries |
|
study |
studi + es = studies |
|
marry |
marri + es = marries |
|
rely |
reli + es = relies |
However, when the verb ends in a vowel + y, the y is NOT changed when the ending –s is added. For example:
|
Bare Infinitive |
Third Person Singular |
|
play |
play + s = plays |
|
stay |
stay + s = stays |
|
say |
say + s = says |
|
enjoy |
enjoy + s = enjoys |
b. Verbs ending in o
When a verb ends in o, the ending –es is added. For example:
|
Bare Infinitive |
Third Person Singular |
|
do |
do + es = does |
|
go |
go + es = goes |
|
echo |
echo + es = echoes |
c. Verbs ending in ch, s, sh, x or z
When a verb ends in a sibilant sound like s, sh, ch, x, or z, the ending –es is added. For example:
|
Bare Infinitive |
Third Person Singular |
|
pass |
pass + es = passes |
|
fish |
fish + es = fishes |
|
watch |
watch + es = watches |
|
relax |
relax + es = relaxes |
|
buzz + es = buzzes |