2.23.d

Inflectional endings: An inflectional ending is a letter, or group of letters, added to the end of a word to change its tense (verbs) or amount (nouns).

When a regular singular noun is changed to its plural form, the ending of the of the word is changed. Regular plural nouns have -s or -es at the end.

When to use -s or -es

Add "-es" when a noun ends with "sh," "ch," "s," "x," or "z."
Add "-s" when a noun ends with any other letter.

Example:

Marci saw the airplane fly by. (Singular noun)
Marci saw the airplanes fly by. (Plural noun)

Anthony put the dish in the sink. (Singular noun)
Anthony put the dishes in the sink. (Plural noun)

The simple present tense form of a verb changes depending on the subject of a sentence. If the subject of a sentence is a singular noun, or a singular pronoun that is not I or you, add -s or -es to the end of the verb.

When to use -s or -es

Add "-es" when a verb ends with "sh," "ch," "s," "x," or "z."
Add "-s" when a verb ends with any other letter.

Example:

The eager little beagles run after the ball. (Plural subject)
The eager little beagle runs after the ball. (Singular subject)

I watch TV on Saturday mornings. (Singular pronoun)
She watches TV on Saturday mornings. (Singular pronoun)

Even though the pronoun, "I," is singular, the verb, "watch," should not be changed.

When a regular present tense verb is changed to the past tense, the ending of the word is changed. Regular past tense verbs have -ed added to the end. If the verb ends in "e," then only -d is added to the end.

Example:

The students bake a cake for their teacher. (Present tense)
The students baked a cake for their teacher. (Past tense)

The quick brown fox jumps over the dog. (Present tense)
The quick brown fox jumped over the dog. (Past tense)

When one of the "to-be" helping verbs (am, is, are, was, or were) is used in a sentence, add -ing to the end of the action verb.

Example:

The little boys eat their sandwiches at the table.
The little boys are eating their sandwiches at the table.

I play house with my younger sister.
I am playing house with my younger sister.

Word Endings

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): 2.23.d

spell base words with inflectional endings (e.g., -ing and -ed);

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