Home› Course› Level 1› Pronouncing -s and -es
1 Concept
One Spelling, Three Sounds
🔊 Pronunciation — needed before you start Present Simple

You already know from Lesson 1 that every present-simple verb with "he", "she", or "it" ends in "-s" or "-es": works, watches, plays. But here's what most learners never get taught: that ending is not always pronounced the same way.

The same spelling, three different sounds:

"gets" ends in /s/  ·  "runs" ends in /z/  ·  "watches" ends in /ɪz/
Which sound you use is not random — it is decided entirely by the last sound of the base verb, before you add anything. This lesson gives you the three rules, so you can pronounce every verb in the top 100 list correctly, automatically.
2 The Three Sounds
/s/, /z/, and /ɪz/ at a Glance
SoundWhen it happensExample
/s/ Base verb ends in a voiceless sound (no vibration in your throat) get → gets /ˈgɛts/
/z/ Base verb ends in a voiced sound (vibration in your throat) or a vowel run → runs /ˈrʌnz/
/ɪz/ Base verb ends in a hissing or buzzing sound — an extra syllable is added watch → watches /ˈwɑʧɪz/
Quick test: put your fingers on your throat and say "sss" — no vibration, that's voiceless. Now say "zzz" — you'll feel vibration, that's voiced. This is the entire secret behind all three rules.
3 Rule 1
/s/ — After Voiceless Sounds

If the base verb ends in /p/, /t/, /k/, or /f/ — sounds made with no vibration in your throat — the ending is pronounced /s/, like a hiss.

/s/ triggers

/p/ /t/ /k/ /f/
  • stop → stops /ˈstɑps/
  • get → gets /ˈgɛts/
  • want → wants /ˈwɑnts/
  • take → takes /ˈteɪks/
  • keep → keeps /ˈkips/
  • walk → walks /ˈwɑks/
4 Rule 2
/z/ — After Voiced Sounds and Vowels

This is the most common of the three sounds. If the base verb ends in a voiced consonant (one with vibration) or a vowel sound, the ending is pronounced /z/, like a buzz.

/z/ triggers

/b/ /d/ /g/ /v/ /m/ /n/ /l/ /r/ vowels
  • know → knows /ˈnoʊz/
  • come → comes /ˈkʌmz/
  • give → gives /ˈgɪvz/
  • see → sees /ˈsiz/
  • play → plays /ˈpleɪz/
  • run → runs /ˈrʌnz/
  • call → calls /ˈkɑlz/
  • read → reads /ˈridz/
Since most English sounds are voiced, and every vowel is voiced, "/z/" is the sound you will use most often — even though the spelling always looks like "s".
5 Rule 3
/ɪz/ — After Hissing or Buzzing Sounds

If the base verb already ends in /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /ʧ/, or /ʤ/ — sounds that already hiss or buzz on their own — English adds a whole new syllable: /ɪz/. This is also exactly why these verbs are spelled with "-es" instead of just "-s" (Lesson 1).

/ɪz/ triggers

/s/ /z/ /ʃ/ /ʒ/ /ʧ/ /ʤ/
  • watch → watches /ˈwɑʧɪz/ (2 syllables)
  • catch → catches /ˈkæʧɪz/ (2 syllables)
  • reach → reaches /ˈriʧɪz/ (2 syllables)
  • use → uses /ˈjuzɪz/ (2 syllables)
  • lose → loses /ˈluzɪz/ (2 syllables)
  • raise → raises /ˈreɪzɪz/ (2 syllables)
  • pass → passes /ˈpæsɪz/ (2 syllables)
  • change → changes /ˈʧeɪnʤɪz/ (2 syllables)
This is the only rule that adds a syllable. "watch" has one syllable; "watches" has two. If you say "watch's" as one syllable, native speakers will not understand you clearly — the extra /ɪz/ syllable is essential, not optional.
6 Practice
Try It Yourself
Exercise A — Identify the Sound

Click the sound for each verb.

  • 1
    He speaks three languages.
    ✓ Correct — "speaks" ends in a voiceless sound (/k/), so the ending is /s/.
  • 2
    She lives in Colombia.
    ✓ Correct — "lives" ends in a voiced sound (/v/), so the ending is /z/.
  • 3
    He catches the bus every day.
    ✓ Correct — "catches" ends in a hissing sound (/ʧ/), adding a syllable, so the ending is /iz/.
  • 4
    She takes the train to work.
    ✓ Correct — "takes" ends in a voiceless sound (/k/), so the ending is /s/.
  • 5
    He changes his mind often.
    ✓ Correct — "changes" ends in a hissing sound (/ʤ/), adding a syllable, so the ending is /iz/.
  • 6
    He works hard every day.
    ✓ Correct — "works" ends in a voiceless sound (/k/), so the ending is /s/.
  • 7
    She calls her mother every day.
    ✓ Correct — "calls" ends in a voiced sound (/l/), so the ending is /z/.
  • 8
    He plays the guitar.
    ✓ Correct — "plays" ends in a voiced vowel sound, so the ending is /z/.
Exercise B — Spell the -s / -es Form

Type the correct he/she/it form. This reinforces the spelling rules from Lesson 1.

  • 1
    watch →
  • 2
    try →
  • 3
    play →
  • 4
    pass →
  • 5
    carry →
  • 6
    use →
  • 7
    know →
  • 8
    reach →
Exercise C — Which Sound Group?

Click the correct sound for each verb.

  • 1
    keep → keeps
    ✓ Correct — "keep" ends in /p/, a voiceless sound, so the ending is /s/: "keeps."
  • 2
    call → calls
    ✓ Correct — "call" ends in /l/, a voiced sound, so the ending is /z/: "calls."
  • 3
    raise → raises
    ✓ Correct — "raise" already ends in a /z/ sound, so English adds a new syllable: "raises" /ˈreɪzɪz/.
  • 4
    want → wants
    ✓ Correct — "want" ends in /t/, a voiceless sound, so the ending is /s/: "wants."
  • 5
    see → sees
    ✓ Correct — "see" ends in a vowel sound, and vowels are always voiced, so the ending is /z/: "sees."
  • 6
    reach → reaches
    ✓ Correct — "reach" ends in /ʧ/, a hissing sound, so English adds a new syllable: "reaches" /ˈriʧɪz/.
  • 7
    walk → walks
    ✓ Correct — "walk" ends in /k/, a voiceless sound, so the ending is /s/: "walks."
  • 8
    live → lives
    ✓ Correct — "live" ends in /v/, a voiced sound, so the ending is /z/: "lives."
7 Choose the Right Sound
Apply What You Know

Read each question carefully. Select the correct answer.

Question 1 of 8
Select the correct pronunciation of "speaks".
Question 2 of 8
Select the verb whose -s ending is pronounced /ɪz/.
Question 3 of 8
Select the correct number of syllables in "changes".
Question 4 of 8
Select the group of sounds that always trigger the /s/ ending.
Question 5 of 8
Select the correct pronunciation of "knows".
Question 6 of 8
Select the correct pronunciation of "watches".
Question 7 of 8
Select the verb whose -s ending is pronounced /s/.
Question 8 of 8
Select the correct explanation for why "uses" has two syllables.
8 Summary
Three sounds, one spelling The -s / -es ending is pronounced /s/, /z/, or /ɪz/, depending entirely on the last sound of the base verb.
  • /s/ — after voiceless sounds: /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/. Example: gets, wants, takes.
  • /z/ — after voiced sounds and all vowels. This is the most common. Example: runs, plays, sees.
  • /ɪz/ — after hissing/buzzing sounds: /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /ʧ/, /ʤ/. Adds a whole new syllable. Example: watches, uses, changes.
  • The /ɪz/ rule is the same reason these verbs are spelled with "-es" instead of just "-s."
  • Dropping the extra /ɪz/ syllable is one of the most common pronunciation mistakes English learners make.
← Previous lesson Foundation Block: To Have Next lesson Simple vs. Progressive: The Big Idea →