PRONUNCIATION OF THE -(E)S ENDING
The rules for the pronunciation of the -(e)s ending are the same for:
· Plurals : books
· 3rd person singular of verbs in the present simple : he plays
· the Saxon Genitive: Kenīs
voiced = sonora
voiceless= sorda.
It has three different pronunciations:
/s/ when the preceding sound is voiceless
stops waits books
/z/ when the preceding sound is voiced
plays cars Kenīs
/iz/ when the preceding sound is sibilant
watches kisses washes
Now listen and repeat. ClicK here
/z/ He lives in
London
He wears a
tracksuit.
/s/
He eats very fast
He walks a lot
He makes films
/iz/ He
never watches TV
He relaxes
after lunch
He practises
his lines
EXERCISES