Sage-Tips

Why do we drop y and add ies?

Because in a closed syllable is pronounced like short i. When we put on the end of a word we close the syllable (end it with a consonant). According to the rules of English phonics, that syllable would then be pronounced “iss”. It isn’t, so we spell in instead.

Why do you add IES to a word?

To show possession when a noun ending in y becomes plural, write ies’. Exception: Names and other proper nouns ending in y become plural simply by adding an s. They do not form their plurals with an apostrophe, or by changing the y to ies.

Why do we change the Y to I and add ES?

For nouns that end in consonant + -y, change the “y” to “-ies” to make them plural. The vowels in English are: a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y. So, if a noun has a consonant + -y ending, we change just the last letter to -ies. This creates a brand new plural word.

What is the rule for changing words that end in Y into plurals?

Nouns and verbs are sometimes plural. For words that end in y, there is a simple rule for changing these words to the plural form: If the y follows a consonant, then change the y to i and add -es. If the y follows a vowel, add -s.

What is the IES rule?

“Drop the y and add ies” The Rule: If a word ends in y with a consonant before it (fly), you drop the y and add -ies to make it plural. If the y has a vowel before it (boys), then you just add the s.

Why do some plural Words end in IES?

The rule simply depends on the letter before the last “y”. When the letter before the last “y” is a vowel (a, e, i, o and u), the noun takes “s” to become plural. The word takes “ies”, colloquies” even though the letter before the last “y” is a vowel “u”.

What is the rule for dropping the Y and adding ING?

The Y rule: When a root ends in y, change the y to i when adding a suffix (easy + est = easiest; happy + ness = happiness). Exceptions: Keep the y if a vowel comes before it (play + er = player; joy + ful = joyful). Keep the y if adding the suffix -ing (cry + ing = crying; study + ing = studying).

Why do some plural words end in IES?

How do you teach plurals?

The first thing you need to do when introducing plurals for the first time is to make sure that all the nouns that you are using just take “-s” in the plural, leaving out any nouns that take “-es”, take “-ies”, are irregular, are uncountable, etc.

Is ies a suffix?

Suffix. (adjective suffix) reminding of, appropriate to, characteristic of. Added to a noun to form an adjective.

Why do we change words ending in -Y to -ies or -IES?

Changing -y to -ies or -s to make plurals and third person verbs. Why do we change some words ending in -y to -ies and some we just add -s to make plurals or third person verbs? a. If the word ends in a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) + y then just add s.

What does -y to -ies or -s mean?

-y to -ies or -s rule Changing -y to -ies or -s to make plurals and third person verbs. Plurals : some donkeys, two factories, some toys Third person verbs with he/she/it — She enjoys, He cries, It flies

How do you change the Y at the end of words?

We often change the y at the end of a word to i before adding es to form the plural. Likewise, y sometimes changes to i before we add other suffixes, such as – ed, – er and – est. To form the plural of a noun, we change a -y ending to -ie- and then add s.

What is the rule for adding s to the end of words?

If the word ends in a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) + y then just add s. Or we’d have too many vowels and a confusing word (key – keies)!!! b oy — boys, journ ey — journeys, key — keys, tray — trays, donkey — donkeys. b. If the word ends in a consonant + y then – y changes to – ies Note that you don’t use spelling rules with proper names.