Change -y to -ies or -s.
baby - babies, memory - memories, story - stories
boy - boys, enjoy - enjoys, journey - journeys
Why do we change some words ending in 'y' to 'ies' and some we just add 's' to make plurals or third person verbs?
Plurals - some donkeys, two factories, some toys
Third person verbs (he/she/it) - She enjoys, He cries, It flies
a. If the word ends in a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) + y then just add s
boy - boys, journey - journeys, key - keys, tray - trays, donkey - donkeys... Or we'd have too many vowels and a confusing word (key - keies)!!!
b. If the word ends in a consonant + y then 'y' changes to ies
country - countries, baby - babies, body - bodies, memory - memories, sky - skies, variety - varieties, factory - factories...
Note that you don't use spelling rules with proper names. Just make sure you use a capital letter (or you'll have all sorts of problems with passports and online searches!):
The Jollys have gone on holiday (Not the Jollies have gone...)
The Parrys are moving house.
For more plural spelling rules click here
Change the 'y' to 'ies' or 's'. Press Answer button and check your spelling letter by letter
Do the word search below. Might take a few seconds to load.(if you can't see the word search click here Words ending In -ies word search )
If you're interested in learning more about spelling rules check out my book
Spelling Rules Workbook Learn all about rules such as drop the 'e', magic 'e' silent 'e', 1:1:1 doubling up rule, al, el, le rule, adding ly, y to i rules, ck, k, ke rules, silent letter rules, prefix rules and much much more. Learning spelling rules is important because Click here for more info about this spiral-bound "real" book - yeah! Only £17 including postage & packing /shipping
a step-by-step guide to the rules of English spelling
(suitable for British and American users)
200 pages of spelling rules and exercises.
1. they add to your spelling knowledge
2. they explain why we have 'strange' letter patterns
3. and they help you understand why spelling is the way it is.
