Speaking: Pronunciation A2 - Lesson 1
Pronouncing -s Endings (plurals, 3rd person verbs)
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to correctly pronounce the three different sounds of "-s" endings on plural nouns and third-person verbs.
The Three Sounds of "-s"
In English, when we add an "-s" to a word to make it a plural1 noun or a third-person verb2, the pronunciation of that "-s" can change. There are three possible sounds. Getting these sounds right will make your speaking much clearer and more natural.
| The Sound | Like... | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| /s/ | a snake (sss) | stops, cats, books, shirts |
| /z/ | a bee (zzz) | lives, dogs, pens, plays, goes |
| /ɪz/ (adds a syllable) | the end of "classes" | watches, classes, rises, dishes |
Vocabulary Glossary
- plural (Noun) | ពហុវចនៈ | The form of a noun that means more than one (e.g., "cat" becomes "cats"). ↩
- third-person verb (Noun) | កិរិយាស័ព្ទបុរសទី៣ | The verb form used with he, she, or it in the Present Simple (e.g., "I walk" but "he walks"). ↩
- voiceless sound (Noun) | សំឡេងអឃោសៈ | A sound made with only air, without vibrating your vocal cords (e.g., /p/, /t/, /k/, /s/). ↩
- voiced sound (Noun) | សំឡេងឃោសៈ | A sound that makes your vocal cords vibrate (e.g., /b/, /d/, /g/, /z/, /m/, and all vowel sounds). ↩
Pronunciation Focus: Voiced vs. Voiceless Sounds
The rule for pronouncing "-s" depends on the sound at the end of the original word. Is it voiced or voiceless?
Try this experiment: Put your hand on your throat.
- Now, make the sound /p/... /t/... /k/... /f/. You should feel only air. These are voiceless sounds3. After a voiceless sound, the "-s" is pronounced /s/. (e.g., stops, cats)
- Now, make the sound /b/... /d/... /g/... /v/. You should feel a vibration or a "buzz" in your throat. These are voiced sounds4. After a voiced sound, the "-s" is pronounced /z/. (e.g., robs, beds)
Words that end in hissing or buzzing sounds like /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /tʃ/ get the third sound: /ɪz/ (e.g., kisses, watches). This adds an extra syllable to the word.
Putting It All Together
Listen to these sentences and notice how all three sounds are used.
- He stops /s/ his two bikes /s/ near the maps /s/.
- She plays /z/ with her dogs /z/ on rainy days /z/.
- He watches /ɪz/ the buses /ɪz/ and glasses /ɪz/.
Practice the Sounds
Activity 1: Sort the Words
Read the words below. In which column does each word belong based on its final sound?
Words: teaches, needs, hopes, bags, months, wishes, drives, boxes
- /s/ sound: hopes, months
- /z/ sound: needs, bags, drives
- /ɪz/ sound: teaches, wishes, boxes
Activity 2: Read Aloud
Practice reading these sentences aloud. Pay close attention to the sound of the "-s" endings.
- My teacher works with students from many places.
- She lives in a house with two cats.
- He washes the dishes after he finishes his lunch.
Your Pronunciation Mission
This week in Siem Reap, your mission is to be an "-s" detective.
Listen to English being spoken around you, or watch an English movie. Listen for words ending in "-s". Try to identify the sound. Did you hear /s/, /z/, or /ɪz/? Write down three examples you hear.