Search blog

The correct pronunciation and usage of S ES IES Rules in English

Content publishing rules

Nouns and verbs will have completely different pronunciations after adding S ES IES Rules. In today's article, let's explore how to add S ES IES Rules to nouns, verbs, and their accurate pronunciation with PREP!

The proper usage of S ES IES Rules in English

I. When to apply S ES IES Rules to words?
II. How to apply S ES IES Rules to nouns and verbs
III. Pronunciation rules for S ES IES in English
IV. Exercise on applying S ES IES Rules
V. Crack the IELTS Exam With Confidence

I. When to apply S ES IES Rules to words?

When should S ES IES Rules be applied to words? Let's explore the two most common methods with PREP below!

How to apply S ES IES Rules	Example
After singular countable nouns.	Book /bʊk/ - books /bʊks/ Chair /tʃer/- chairs /tʃerz/ Tree /triː/ - trees /triːz/. Bus /bʌs/ - buses /bʌsiz/ Class /klæs/ - classes /klæsiz/
After the third person in the present simple tense.	Jack often reads English books. Maria loves playing piano.

II. How to apply S ES IES Rules to nouns and verbs

When adding the suffix S ES IES, what principles should we follow? Let's explore them with PREP below!

1. Principles of adding S

Principles of adding S to nouns and verbs	Example
When a noun or verb ends with the vowel "o" preceded by a different vowel (u, e, a, i).	Ratio /ˈreɪ.ʃoʊ/ - ratios /ˈreɪ.ʃoʊz/ Video /ˈvɪd.i.oʊ/ - videos /ˈvɪd.i.oʊz/ Radio /ˈreɪ.di.oʊ/ - radios /ˈreɪ.di.oʊz/
When a noun or verb ends with the consonant "y" preceded by a vowel (u, e, o, a, i).	Boy /bɔɪ/ - boys /bɔɪz/ Day /deɪ/ - days /deɪz/ Play /pleɪ/ - plays /pleɪz/ Buy /baɪ/ - buys /baɪz/ Say /seɪ/ - says /seɪz/
When a noun or verb ends with "f/fe" ➞ Add "s" after the word (applies only to some cases).	Cliff /klɪf/ - cliffs /klɪfs/ Safe /seɪf - safes /seɪfs/ Chief /ʧiːf/ - chiefs /ʧiːfs/

2. Principles of adding ES

Principles of adding ES to nouns and verbs	Example
When a noun or verb ends with "s, ss, sh, ch, z, and x".	Go /ɡoʊ/ - goes /ɡoʊz/ Teach /tiːʧ/ - teaches /tiːʧɪz/ Bus /bʌs/ - buses /ˈbʌsɪz/ Tax /tæks/ - taxes /ˈtæksɪz/ Box /bɒks/ - boxes /ˈbɒksɪz/
When a noun or verb ends with the vowel "o" preceded by a consonant.	Potato /pəˈteɪ.toʊ/- potatoes /pəˈteɪ.toʊz/ Tomato /təˈmeɪ.toʊ/ - tomatoes /təˈmeɪ.toʊz/ Do /duː/ - does /dəz/ Undergo /ˌʌndərˈɡoʊ/ - undergoes /ˌʌndərˈɡoʊz/ Echo /ˈɛkoʊ/ - echoes /ˈɛkoʊz/
Nouns like "calf, half, knife, loaf, leaf, life, self, thief, wife, wolf,..." ➞ Replace "f/fe" with "v" and add "es" after.	Calf /kæf/ - calves /kævz/ Half /hæf/ - halves /hævz/ Knife /naɪf/ - knives /naɪvz/ Leaf /liːf/ - leaves /liːvz/ Life /laɪf/ - lives /laɪvz/

3. Principles of adding IES

Principles of adding IES to nouns and verbs	Example
When a noun or verb ends with a consonant + "y" preceded by a consonant ➞ Replace "y" with "i" and add "es".	Study /ˈstʌdi/ - studies /ˈstʌdiz/ Fly /flaɪ/ - flies /flaɪz/ Copy /ˈkɒpi/ - copies /ˈkɒpiz/ Country /ˈkʌntri/ - countries /ˈkʌntriz/ Spy /spaɪ/ - spies /spaɪz/

III. Pronunciation rules for S ES IES in English

There are 3 main ways to pronounce S ES IES, depending on the pronunciation of the final sound of the word, so the pronunciation will be different:

	Pronunciation rules for S ES IES Rules	Example
/s/	Words with a final voiceless consonant such as: /θ/, /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/.	Cats /kæts/ Works /wə:ks/
/iz/	When the word has a final voiceless consonant, for example: /s/ /ʃ/ /ʧ/, and final voiced consonants, for example: /z/ /ʒ/, /dʒ/. Usually, these words will end in sh, ce, s, z, ge, ch, x, ...	Kisses /kɪsiz/ Boxes /bɒksiz/ Crashes /kræ∫iz/
/z/	When the word ends with other voiced consonants or a vowel.	Dreams /dri:mz/ Plays /pleiz/

IV. Exercise on applying S ES IES Rules

To reinforce your knowledge of applying S ES IES Rules, let's complete the pronunciation exercise below with PREP!

Exercise: Choose the word with a different pronunciation from the others.

1.	A. coughs	B. sings	C. stops	D. sleeps
2.	A. signs	B. profits	C. becomes	D. survives
3.	A. walks	B. steps	C. shuts	D. plays
4.	A. wishes	B. practices	C. introduces	D. leaves
5.	A. grasses	B. stretches	C. comprises	D. potatoes
6.	A. desks	B. maps	C. plants	D. chairs
7.	A. pens	B. books	C. phones	D. tables
8	A. dips	B. deserts	C. books	D. camels
9.	A. miles	B. attends	C. drifts	D. glows
10.	A. mends	B. develops	C. values	D. equals

Answer:

1 - B	2 - B	3 - D	4 - D	5 - D
6 - D	7 - B	8 - D	9 - C	10 - B

V. Crack the IELTS Exam With Confidence

PREP hopes that through the article about applying S ES IES Rules above, you have gained an understanding of the pronunciation rules and how to apply S ES IES Rules to nouns and verbs. If you want to discover the tips and strategies that top scorers use to excel in the IELTS exam. Our engaging lessons and focused coaching sessions will take you from beginner to pro:

IELTS online coaching: Master IELTS With Us!

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.