‘S’ endings
In the following sentence, how many different pronunciations of ’s’ endings would occur?
Where’s Kate’s cat? I haven’t seen it in ages.
There are three different pronunciations of ’s’ in the example. ‘Where’s’ is pronounced with /z/. ‘Kate’s’ is pronounced as /s/ and ‘ages’ is pronounced with /ɪz/
How are ‘s’ endings pronounced?
When we add ‘s’ to a word (root), the following pronunciation rule applies:
- If the root word ends in a voiced consonant or a vowel sound, ‘s’ is pronounced /z/
Example: where’s opens, pulls.
- If the root word ends in a voiceless consonant, ‘s’ is pronounced /s/
Example: Kate’s, looks, pops
- If the root word ends in /s, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ/, the ending is pronounced /ɪz/
Example: ages, wishes, faces
DRILL
/z/ dogs, cares, snails, spiders, mushrooms
/s/ cats, creates, smokes, laughs, gasps
/ɪz/ brushes, faces, passes, spaces, witches
EXERCISE
Which word is different in each line based on the pronunciation of its ending?
A. works looks kisses drops eats
B. plays shows stars opens likes
C. waits wrecks hates needs wants
D. enjoys loves drips learns tries
E. cries ends stems crams lights
F. leans tastes crows allows flames
G. flows smokes flops spikes shocks
H. jams steams ends invents decides
Answers: A. kisses B. likes C. needs D. drips E. lights F. tastes G. flows H. invents
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