Pronunciation of Final -S Es and -Ies

Pronunciation of Final -s –es and -ies

The ending of 3rd person singular verbs in the present simple tense always looks the same: “-s”, “-es”, “-ies”. as well as the end of plural nouns. However, there are three ways to pronounce the “-s” ending. Depending on the last sound of the base word, the “-s” ending is pronounced as /s/, /z/, or /iz/. How do you know which of the three sounds to use? **Listen to the last sound of the base word!** (NOT the letter, but the sound it makes!)

1. The -s at the end of a word preceded by a soft (voiceless) sound is pronounced /s/.

Examples: apps, sits, takes, laughs, paths

Soft/Voiceless Sounds & Consonants that get /s/: p t k f th

2. The -s at the end of a word preceded by a hard (voiced) sound is pronounced /z/.

Examples: pays, beds, balls, means, brings

Hard/Voiced Sounds, Vowels, & Consonants that get /z/: *a e i o u* b d g l m n r w ng

3. EXTRA SYLLABLE RULE! When the final -s or -es comes after the sounds: /s/ or /z/, or /sh/, /ch/, or /ge/ then the pronunciation of the last syllable is /iz/!

Look at these examples: Last Sound of Main Verb -es sound: 1. classes /s/ /iz/ 2. buzzes /z/ /iz/ 3. brushes /sh/ /iz/ 4. watches /ch/ /iz/ 5. challenges /ge/ /iz/

What sound is at the end of these words? Test yourself. Determine if the /s/ at the end of these words sounds like /z/ or /s/ or /iz/.

1. carries _____ 12. foxes _____ 2. reservations _____ 13. buses _____ 3. payments 14. musicians ______15. kisses _____ 4. teaches _____ 16. arrives _____ 5. illnesses _____ 17. laughs _____ 6. walks 18. attends ______19. jumps _____ 7. sees _____ 20. pages _____ 8. washes _____ 21. catches _____ 9. dogs _____ 22. claims _____ 10. kicks _____ 23. pleases _____ 11. runs _____ 24. classes _____ Key: 1. downpours /z/ 2. reservations /z/ 3. payments /s/ 4. teaches /iz/ 5. symptoms /z/ 6. budges /iz/ 7. heights /s/ 8. washes /iz/ 9. slayings /z/ 10.statistics /s/ 11.struggles /z/ 12.foxes /iz/ 13.buses /iz/ 14.musicians /z/ 15.kisses /iz/ 16. arrives /z/ 17. casinos /z/ 18. attends /z/ 19. pickups /s/ 20. pages /iz/ 21. incorporates /s/ 22. claims /z/ 23. pleases /iz/ 24.classes /iz/