Plural Rule 2 | Mr Spelling

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PLURAL SPELLING RULE 2

When a noun ends in CH, SH, Z, S, or X, adding just S would create an awkward, unpronounceable cluster. Instead, you add ES to create an extra syllable. So church becomes churches, dish becomes dishes, and box becomes boxes.

Add ES Pairs

SPELLING WORDS

CH SH Z S X

box→boxes

dress→dresses

church→churches

lunch→lunches

dish→dishes

brush→brushes

bus→buses

fox→foxes

Base forms to spell (then write the plural)

box dress church lunch dish brush bus fox witch beach bench glass branch tax boss

Spelling Word List

15 nouns ending in CH, SH, Z, S, or X: write the base and its ES plural.

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CH, SH, Z, S, X → Add ES

HOW IT WORKS

Plural Rule 2: Hissing/Buzzing Endings

CH / SH / Z / S / X → word + ES

The endings CH, SH, Z, S, and X all end with a hissing or buzzing sound. If you added just S, the word would be nearly unpronounceable: try saying churchs or boxs out loud! Adding ES creates a new syllable that separates the sounds: church-es, box-es, dish-es. You can hear the extra syllable that tells you to spell ES.

Exceptions

WATCH OUT

Words that look like rule 2 but don't follow it

stomachs

Words ending in a silent H (like stomach, monarch) just add S. The CH in stomach makes the /k/ sound, not the /ch/ sound: so no extra syllable is needed: stomachs, not stomaches.

buses / busses

Both buses and busses are accepted plural forms of bus. The double-S spelling is less common but technically correct. Buses is the preferred form in most style guides.

hear the beat!

The best test for Rule 2: say the plural out loud. If you hear an extra syllable at the end, spell it ES. Dog → dogs (no extra beat → just S). Church → church-es (extra beat /iz/ → ES).

Lyrics

Plural Rule 2: Add ES Song

Are you ready to learn plural rule number two? I got this. Here we go.

CHORUS

CH SH Z S X, if these letters end a word,
then add ES. Add ES.
CH SH Z S X, if these letters end a word,
then add ES to make the plural form.

VERSE 1

Box. Ends in X. Add ES. Boxes is the plural. Yes.
Dress. Ends in SS. Add ES. Dresses is the plural. Yes.
Church. Ends in CH. Add ES. Churches is the plural. Yes.
Lunch. Ends in CH. Add ES. Lunches is the plural. Yes.

CHORUS

CH SH Z S X, if these letters end a word,
then add ES. Add ES.
CH SH Z S X, if these letters end a word,
then add ES to make the plural form.

VERSE 2

Dish. Ends in SH. Add ES. Dishes is the plural. Yes.
Brush. Ends in SH. Add ES. Brushes is the plural. Yes.
Bus. Ends in S. Add ES. Buses is the plural. Yes.
Fox. Ends in X. Add ES. Foxes is the plural. Yes.

CHORUS

CH SH Z S X, if these letters end a word,
then add ES. Add ES.

Mr. Spelling. Bye-bye.