Question 1

What are the spelling rules for third person -s?

Accepted Answer

There are five main patterns. Most verbs just add -s: like → likes, read → reads, run → runs. Verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, or -o add -es: teach → teaches, push → pushes, pass → passes, relax → relaxes, go → goes. Verbs ending in a consonant followed by y change the y to -ies: study → studies, try → tries, worry → worries. Verbs ending in a vowel followed by y just add -s: play → plays, enjoy → enjoys. Finally, "have" is irregular and becomes "has." These are all the rules you need — once you memorise them, you can spell any verb correctly.

Question 2

Which verbs need -es instead of -s?

Accepted Answer

Verbs that end in the letters -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, or -o need -es. Common examples include: watch → watches, teach → teaches, finish → finishes, wash → washes, kiss → kisses, miss → misses, fix → fixes, mix → mixes, go → goes, do → does. The reason is pronunciation: these endings create a new sound that needs an extra vowel to say clearly. Try saying "watchs" without the "e" — it is very difficult. The -es adds an extra part to the word that makes it easy to say. This rule applies to every verb with these endings, with no exceptions.

Question 3

How do I know if a verb changes y to -ies?

Accepted Answer

Look at the letter before the y. If it is a consonant (b, c, d, f, g, h, etc.), change the y to -ies: study → studies, carry → carries, fly → flies, hurry → hurries, worry → worries. If it is a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), just add -s as normal: play → plays, stay → stays, enjoy → enjoys, buy → buys. The key is to check only the letter directly before the y. For example, "delay" ends in -ay (vowel + y), so it becomes "delays." But "reply" ends in -ly (consonant + y), so it becomes "replies." This consonant-before-y spelling change also applies to noun plurals: party → parties, city → cities.

Third Person -s/-es Spelling Rules

Quick Rule

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Present Simple Dictation: Routines and Third-Person Forms

Positive Form

Negative Form

-ed vs -ing Adjectives

Conditionals

Present Perfect