Tuesday, 21 May 2019

Plural, Present Simple and possessive -s

The same principles apply to three functions of the -s suffix: the plural marker, the 3rd person singular Present Simple marker and the possessive (Saxon Genitive) -'s or -s':

1. After a voiceless consonant, the -s is pronounced /-s/, as in tips, likes, Jack's.
2. After a voiced consonant, semi-vowel, vowel or diphthong, the -s is pronounced /-z/, as in bans, shoes, pays, Hugh's.
3. After /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /tʃ/ or /dʒ/, the -s or -es is pronounced /-ɪz/ (some sources claim it is /-əz/), as in cases, bushes, passes, buzzes, marches or judge's.

Ex. Put the following words containing -s or -es in three categories, depending on the pronunciation of the suffix.

1. Plural -(e)s:   beets, apples, pears, oranges, peas, sweets, quiches, pizzas, chocolates, grapes
2. Present Simple -(e)s:   cooks, fries, slices, boils, bakes, dices, peels, eats, chops, seasons
3. Possessive -'s or -s':   chef's, France's, restaurant's, customer's, Italy's, gourmet's, waiter's, India's


KEY
1. /-s/ beets, sweets, chocolates, grapes /-z/ apples, pears, peas, pizzas /-ɪz/ oranges, quiches
2. /-s/ cooks, bakes, eats, chops /-z/ fries, boils, peels, seasons /-ɪz/ slices, dices
3. /-s/ chef's, restaurant's  /-z/ customer's, Italy's, gourmet's, waiter's, India's /-ɪz/ France's

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