ESL Grammar: PRESENT TENSE (3) – Change -y to -ies

In this ESL grammar lesson, students learn to the correct spelling for adding -s or -es to verbs that end in “-y.” Students must then rewrite several present tense sentences, correcting the errors contained within.

ESL Grammar: Changing -y to -ies in Present Tense Verbs

When a verb ends in a consonant followed by -y, change the -y to -i and add -es for third-person singular subjects.

Examples:

• She studies English every day. (study -> stud + ies)
• He tries his best in every game. (try -> tr + ies)
• She hurries to catch the bus. (hurry -> hurr + ies)
• He carries his books to school. (carry -> carr + ies)

The English grammar lesson below teaches students how to add -s to verbs that end in -y, in a clear and simple manner that is easy for beginner English learners to understand. Our series of ESL grammar lessons on subjects and verbs introduce these concepts and reinforce them through helpful and instructive exercises.

This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many more English grammar lessons focusing on basic English tenses (present tense, present continuous tense, past tense, future tense) in our comprehensive, beginner-level ESL grammar textbook Great, Great Grammar! (Book 2: Tenses).