Spelling of Verbs and Nouns Ending in -s and -es

These spelling rules apply to verbs and nouns ending in -s and -es:
o o o

third-person singular verbs in the simple present regular plural count nouns

For most third-person singular verbs and plural nouns, add -s to the simple form: Verbs swim ---- swims Nouns lake ---- lakes

If the simple form ends with the letters s, z, sh, ch, or x, add -es: Verbs Nouns miss misses box boxes If the simple form ends with a consonant + y, change y to i and add -es: Verbs Nouns try tries baby babies (Compare vowel + y: obey obeys, toy toys.) If the simple form ends with a consonant + o, add -s or -es. Some words take: s Autoautos photo photos piano pianos solo solos es do does echo echoes go goes hero heroes potato potatoes tomato tomatoes Both -s and -es tornado tornados/tornadoes Volcano volcanos/volcanoes zero zeros/zeroes

If the simple form ends in a single "f " or in "fe", change the "f " or "fe" to "v" and add -es: calf calves shelf shelves knife knives Exceptions, belief beliefs, hoof hoofs/hooves, chief -chiefs, roof roofs, scarf scarfs/scarves

Spelling of Verbs Ending in -ing

These spelling rules are for adding -ing to verbs: For most verbs, add -ing to the simple form of the verb: sleep sleeping talk talking

If the simple form ends in a single e, drop the e and add ing:

live living

write writing

If the simple form ends in je, change i.e. to y and add -ing: die dying lie lying

If the simple form of a one-syllable verb ends with a single vowel + final consonant, double the consonant, and add -ing: hit hitting eating.) stop stopping (Compare two vowels + consonant: eat

If the simple form of a verb with two or more syllables ends in a single vowel + consonant, double the final consonant only if the stress is on the final syllable. Do not double the final consonant if the stress is not on the final syllable: The final "l" is always doubled in British English , but not in American English: travel travelling (British) travel traveling (American)

admit admitting begin beginning develop developing listen listening

Do not double the final consonants x, w,and y: fix fixing plow plowing obey obeying

Spelling of Verbs Ending in ed

These spelling rules are for adding -ed to verbs: To form the simple past and past participle of most regular verbs, add -ed to the simple form: brush brushed play played

If the simple form ends with -e, just add -d: race raced trade traded

If the simple form ends with a consonant + y, change the y to i and add -ed: bury buried enjoyed.) dry dried (Compare vowel + y: play played, enjoy

If the simple form of a one-syllable verb ends with a single vowel + consonant double the final consonant and add -ed: plan planned stop stopped

If the simple form of a verb with two or more syllables ends in a single vowel + consonant, double the final consonant and add -ed only when the stress is on the final syllable. Do not double the final consonant if the stress is not on the final syllable: The final "L" is always doubled in British English, but not in American English: travel travelled (British)

prefer preferred enter entered

travel traveled (American) Do not double the final consonants x, w, and y:

coax coaxed

snow snowed

stay stayed