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-s Endings

"s" Pronunciation

The s ending appears in

  • Plural nouns
  • The s of the 3rd person singular in present simple verbs
  • Genitive 's or Genitive Saxon

As you have seen in the video the "s" can be pronounced /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/

/s/ /z/ /ɪz/
After voiceless sounds After voiced sounds After /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /tʃ/ or /dʒ/
Examples
shops, books, makes, mops, wants, laughs. trees, dogs, beds, hangs, lives, irons, clothes. boxes, churches, washes, changes, places, passes.

  • Boots is pronounced with /s/ or /z/ or /iz/?
  • Swims is pronounced with /s/ or /z/ or /iz/?
  • Churches is pronounced with /s/ or /z/ or /iz/?

Pronunciation practice

Choose the correct pronunciation for these words that appeared in this module: /s/, /z/ or /iz/?

1. Places   6. Spaces   
2. Adults   7. Results  
3. Earnings   8. Achieves  
4. Authorities   9. Vacuums  
5. Lives    10. Spots  

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