Rules

Phonetics: Past tense
  • Past tense -ed resulting in extra syllable: When the verb ends in /t/ or /d/, the past tense suffix is pronounced as an extra syllable as in wanted, faded, and shouted.
  • Voiced past tense -ed: When the final sound of the verb is voiced, the past tense suffix is voiced as in booed, seemed, cried, and stirred.
  • Unvoiced past tense -ed: When the final sound of the verb is unvoiced, the past tense suffix is unvoiced as in waxed, faked, worked, and mopped.
  • Voiced plural /z/: When the final sound in the noun is voiced, the plural suffix is voiced as in words, times, pencils, and shoes.
  • Unvoiced plural /s/: When the final sound in the noun is unvoiced, the plural suffix is unvoiced as in cakes, plants, and cats.
  • Extra syllable plural /-ez/: When the last sound in the noun is 'tch', 'ch', soft 'g', 's', or 'z' (and probably some others that I can't think of at the moment), the plural suffix is pronounced as an extra syllable as in couches, churches, matches, garages, and classes.
Spelling: Present progressive
  • Add –ing to the base form of the verb. read reading stand standing jump jumping
  • If a verb ends in a silent –e, drop the final -e and add –ing. leave leaving take taking receive receiving
  • In a one-syllable word, if the last three letters are consonant-vowel-consonant combination (CVC), double the last consonant before adding –ing. sit sitting run running hop hopping However, do not double the last consonant in word that end in w, x, or y. sew sewing fix fixing enjoy enjoying
  • In words of two or more syllables that end in a consonant-vowel-consonant combination, double the last consonant only if the last syllable is stressed. admit admitting regret regretting
  • If a verb ends in –ie, change the –ie to y before adding -ing. die dying
Spelling: Simple present
  • Add –s for most verbs work works buy buys ride rides return returns
  • Add –es for words that end in –ch, -s , -sh, -x, or –z. watch watches pass passes rush rushes relax relaxes buzz buzzes
  • Change the –y to –i and add –es when the base form ends in a consonant +y. study studies hurry hurries dry dries. Do not change the –y when the base form ends in a vowel +y. Add –s play plays enjoy enjoys
  • A few verbs have irregular forms. be is do does go goes have has
Spelling: Simple past regular verbs
  • If the verb ends in a consonant, add –ed.return returned help helped cook cooked
  • If the verb ends in –e, add –d. live lived create created die died
  • In one-syllable words, if the verb ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant combination (CVC), double the last consonant and add -ed. hop hopped rub rubbed
  • However, do not double one-syllable words ending in –w, -x, or –y. bow bowed play played mix mixed
  • In words of two or more syllables that end in consonant-vowel-consonant combination, double the last consonant only if the last syllable is stressed. prefer preferred (The last syllable is stressed) visit visited (The last syllable isn’t stressed)
  • If the verb ends in a consonant, + y, change the -y to -i and –ed. worry worried annoy annoyed
  • If the verb ends in a vowel +y, add -ed. (Do not change the –y to –i.) play played annoy annoyed
  • Exceptions: pay paid lay laid say said
Spelling: Comparatives and superlatives
  • Add –er to one-syllable adjectives to form the comparative. Add -est to one-syllable adjectives to form the superlative. cheap cheaper cheapest bright brighter brightest
  • If the adjective ends in –e, add –r or –st. nice nicer nicest
  • If the adjective ends in a consonant +y, change to y to i before you add –er or –est. pretty prettier
  • prettiest Exception: shy shyer shyest
  • If the adjective ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant combination (CVC), double the final consonant before adding –er or –est. big bigger biggest However, do not double the consonant in words ending in –w or –y. slow slower slowest coy coyer coyest

Exercises

Many of the exercises on this page are early attempts to create web-based learning material and as such are quite rough. You might still find some of it useful.

Listening
Conversation
Grammar and idioms
Vocabulary

 

More rules

Spelling: Adverbs
  • Add –ly to the corresponding adjectives nice nicely quiet quietly quick quickly beautiful beautifully
  • If the adjective ends in consonant +y, change the y to i before adding –ly easy easily
  • If the adjective ends in –le, drop the -e and add –y. possible possibly. However, do not drop the –e for other adjectives ending in –e. extreme extremely Exception: true truly
  • If the adjective ends in –ic, add -ally. basic basically fantastic fantastically terrific terrifically
Dropping infinitives

A student asked me today why the infinitive ‘to’ can be dropped after ‘help’. Here’s the short answer:

The infinitive ‘to’ is usually dropped when the infinitive form is used in conjunction with a specific set of verbs - these include “feel”, “hear”, “help”, “let”, “make”, “see”, and “watch”. Examples include:

  • “I felt the earth move” (”move” is the infinitive)
  • “We heard the bell toll” (”toll” is the infinitive)
  • “She helped me understand (”understand” is the infinitive)
  • “I let him win” (”win” is the infinitive)