English Pronunciation: Final -s / -es Sounds

Level A1 · Lesson 2

Language Focus: Three Sounds for -s / -es

We add -s or -es to nouns (to make plurals) and to verbs (with he/she/it). But this ending is not always pronounced the same way — there are three different sounds.

SoundWhen we use itExamples
/s/After quiet sounds: p, t, k, fcats, works, laughs
/z/After most other sounds (b, d, g, l, m, n, r, v, and vowels)dogs, runs, plays
/iz/After s, z, sh, ch, x — adds an extra syllablebuses, watches, boxes
Tip: The /iz/ sound is the easiest to hear because the word gets one syllable longer: "watch" (1 syllable) → "watches" (2 syllables).

Listen and Practise

Click the speaker to listen to each word. Then click the correct sound.

Exercise 1: True or False

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Exercise 3: Matching

Click the speaker to listen to each word. Then click the word, and click the box with its correct sound.

Exercise 4: Word Sort

Drag each word into the correct box: /s/, /z/, or /iz/.

/s/

/z/

/iz/

Exercise 5: Gap Fill

Your Scores