Plurals
Making more than one of something is not always just adding an s: some words take -es, words ending in consonant + y take -ies, and a few change completely.
Example words
- cats
- foxes
- buses
- wishes
- churches
- babies
- ladies
- days
- toys
- leaves
- wolves
- children
- mice
- potatoes
When it's taught
From the National Curriculum for England (English Appendix 1):
Y1Adding -s and -es to words (plural of nouns and third person singular of verbs)
Examples: cats, dogs, catches
Y2Adding -es to nouns and verbs ending in -y
Examples: flies, tries, copies
Practise this pattern
Dictation sentences
Read each one aloud and ask your child to write it down.
- The babies watched the foxes play.
- We picked up leaves on two sunny days.
- The children ate their lunches in the hall.
Quick check
Can they spell these without help?
- boxes
- parties
- monkeys
- knives
Keep going
- Year 1 spelling words - the statutory list with a free worksheet
- Year 2 spelling words - the statutory list with a free worksheet
- Printable spelling test sheet - for writing the words on paper
- Practise in Spelling.Live - add these words as a list, take a Skills Check, or play games built from them
Teaching this pattern
A short lesson idea with a starter, an activity, dictation sentences and words to check.DRAFT
Teaching guide