Five Ways to Use "S"

at the End of a Noun or Verb

Artwork and layout by Elizabeth deLumeau. Developed by Ellen Beck.

In English, "s" is often added to the end of a noun or

verb. This handout will demonstrate five different
situations that require an "s."

1. Use "s" or "es" to show plurality in count

nouns. You need to show plurality when you are
talking about more than one or are speaking in
general terms about all of the items in one
category.
Adding "S" to
Show Plurality
(more than one)

This person is
reading more than
one book.
Therefore, it is
necessary to add
"s" to the end of
the word "books."

Adding "S" to Show

Generality

If you are referring to a

general rule, or are
speaking about ALL of
the items in one
category (all trees, all
computers, all schools),
then you must add "s."
Also, remember not to
use "the" in front of the
plural noun when you
are referring to a
general category.
2. Use "s" for present tense subject/verb
agreement. Add "s" on the end of a verb in
present tense to agree with the singular "he,"
"she," or "it" subject .
Adding "S" for
Subject/ Verb
Agreement

This sentence is in
the present tense.
John is a "he"
subject, so the
verb, "sit" must add
"s" to agree with
"he." This sentence
also expresses
repeated action. We
know that John
always sits in the
front row, and
always hates sitting
there.

Adding "S" for

Subject / Verb
Agreement

Mary is a "she"
subject,
therefore you
need to add "s"
to the verbs
"love" and "eat"
so the subject
and verb agree.
This sentence is
in present tense
and is
expressing
something that
is always true.
Adding "S" for
Subject / Verb
Agreement

"My computer" is an
"it" subject, so the
verbs "break" and
"frustrate" need to add
"s" to agree. This
sentence is in the
present tense and is
expressing a repeated
action.

3. Use an apostrophe followed by "s" ('s) to

show that a singular noun belongs to someone
or something.

Add 'S to Show

Possession

This sentence is
referring to something
that someone owns.
The 's means the
computer belongs to
John.

Add 'S to
Show
Possession

This sentence
is describing
whose house
burned down.
The 's shows us
that it was the
house that
belonged to
Mary.
Add 'S to Show
Possession

This sentence is
comparing the rooms
occupied by two
different people. The
's indicates that one
room is owned by my
brother, while the
other is owned by my
sister.

4. Use an "S" followed by an apostrophe (s') to

show possession of plural nouns or nouns that
always end in "s."

Using S' to
Show
Possession

This sentence is
comparing the
two rooms used
by the boys and
the girls. Since
the words boys
and girls are
already plural,
the apostrophe is
added after the
"s" to show
possession.
Using S' to Show
Possession

Once again, notice the

plural noun, students,
uses "s" followed by
an apostrophe to show
possession.

Using S' to Show

Possession

The name, Myles,

always ends in "s" even
though it is singular.
This means that when
you want to show
possession with the
name Myles, you need
to add the apostrophe
after the "s." For proper
nouns ending in "s," it is also
accepted to add 's (Myles's
homework).

Using S' to Show

Possession

Again, the proper

noun, Les, always
ends in "s." Notice
the apostrophe is
added after the s.

5. The word "is" is often abbreviated (or

"contracted") in English. Use an apostrophe
followed by an "s" ('s) in order to show the
contraction for the word "is."
Using an
Apostrophe
"S" for IT'S

IT'S is simply a
shorter way of
saying IT IS.
There are
several other
words that are
commonly used
with 's to show
a contraction.
For example,
who's, what's,
where's,
there's, he's,
she's, etc.

Other examples of contractions with IS: