Adding Suffixes to Base Words (-s, -es) — Let’s Practice!

Adding Suffixes to Base Words (-s, -es) — Let’s Practice! exercise

• Identify which suffixes make a noun plural.

  Hints

  What letter would you add if you want to make the word "boy" plural?

  What letter(s) would you add if you want to make the word "box" plural?

  Solution

  Most nouns can be made plural by adding the suffix -s or -es.

• Find the words that use the -es suffix when changed to plural.

  Hints

  Try saying each word out loud in its singular and plural forms.
  I have one bus, I have two ________.

  Some irregular nouns use -es.

  Words that end in s usually use the suffix -es to become plural.

  Solution

  Words that end in ch, s, and x usually use the suffix -es to become plural.
  The words above that will use -es to become plural are: church, tomato, bus, and ax.

• Write the plural of each singular noun.

  Hints

  When a word ends with -fe, the f changes to a v and the suffix -es is added.

  When a word ends with a consonant and the letter -y, it takes the suffix -ies to become plural.

  Solution

  To make tree plural, add the suffix -s.
  To make lunch plural, add the suffix -es.
  To make spy plural, change the y to i and add the suffix -es.
  To make life plural, change the f to v and add the suffix -es.

• Complete the story by adding the correct suffixes.

  Hints

  When a word ends in a vowel, add the suffix -s to make it plural.

  Words that end in ch, s, and x usually use the suffix -es to become plural.

  Solution

  This summer, I was riding my bike when something terrible happened! I was riding along when all of a sudden, both of my wheels fell off! My friends jumped off their bikes and ran over. My laughs helped everyone feel less worried.

  Luckily, I was not hurt too badly, but both of my hands were scraped. My friends took my arms and helped me up. We walked back home together. My dad will bring my broken bike to his friend who fixes broken bikes. My dad gave us all lemonade and let us play video games for the rest of the day!

• Create plural nouns by adding the correct suffix.

  Hints

  For nouns that end in -ly, use the suffix -ies when making the noun plural.

  For nouns that end in -x, use the suffix -es when making the noun plural.

  Solution

  1. Foxes uses the suffix -es because fox ends with an x.
  2. The f at the end of elf becomes a v and the suffix -es makes the word plural.
  3. Presents uses the suffix -s to become plural because it is a regular noun.
  4. The y at the end of firefly becomes an i and the suffix -es is added to make the word plural.

• Determine which suffix will make the singular nouns plural.

  Hints

  When a singular noun ends in -y, change the -y to -ies to make it plural.

  Some irregular nouns need the suffix -es to become plural. Are there any irregular nouns in Goopaw's story?

  Solution

  The correct versions of the plural nouns are seen here.