Pronunciation insight 1

Present simple -s endings

All third person (he, she, it) present simple forms of English verbs end in -s. This final -s is pronounced in three different ways:

• /s/ as in works
• /z/ as in plays
• /ɪz/ as in chooses

1Play the recording, listen and match each group of verbs 1–3 to the pronunciation of the -s endings. 

• 1comesstaysshowsprefers/s//z//ɪz/

• 2changesfinishesmatchespasses/s//z//ɪz/

• 3meetslaughsmakessleeps/s//z//ɪz/

2Play the recording, listen and check your answers to exercise 1. Then listen again and repeat. 

3Play the recording, listen and choose the ending you hear. 

• 1arrives/s//z//ɪz/

• 2brushes/s//z//ɪz/

• 3escapes/s//z//ɪz/

• 4closes/s//z//ɪz/

• 5goes/s//z//ɪz/

• 6takes/s//z//ɪz/

4Play the recording, listen and check your answers to exercise 3. Then listen again and repeat. 

5Choose the correct pronunciation to complete the rules. 

• 1We pronounce the -s ending /s//z//ɪz/ if the verb ends in one of the following sounds:

  /s/	Example miss	/mɪs/
  /z/	Example lose	/luːz/
  /ʃ/	Example crash	/kræʃ/
  /ʧ/	Example catch	/kætʃ/
  /ʤ/	Example manage	/ˈmænɪdʒ/

• 2If the verb ends in any other voiceless consonant sound, we pronounce the ending /s//z//ɪz/.

  Example ask /ɑːsk/

• 3If the verb ends in any other voiced consonant sound or a vowel sound, we pronounce the ending /s//z//ɪz/.

  Example rain /reɪn/

6Write sentences in the third person singular. How is the -s ending pronounced? Play the recording, listen and check your answers. 

You need to use normal letters and capital letters correctly in this task. You also need to use correct punctuation.

• 1I leave home at eight o'clock. My sister / 8.30

• /s//z//ɪz/

• 2I use a computer for chatting. Max / playing games

• /s//z//ɪz/

• 3We always eat healthy food. Anna / crisps

• /s//z//ɪz/

• 4We wear jeans to school. My brother / a uniform

• /s//z//ɪz/

• 5I wash my hair twice a week. Olivia / every day

• /s//z//ɪz/

• 6I speak English and French. My boyfriend / Polish

• /s//z//ɪz/

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