-s

Definition

-s is an inflectional morpheme in English that serves to indicate grammatical categories such as plurality in nouns and tense in verbs. It attaches to the base form of a noun to signify that there is more than one, or to a verb to denote that the action is happening in the third person singular present tense. This simple suffix plays a vital role in distinguishing meanings and ensuring grammatical correctness in sentences.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. -s as a plural marker is one of the most common ways to form plurals in English, often added to nouns like 'cat' becoming 'cats'.
2. In verbs, -s indicates third-person singular present tense, as in 'he runs', where 'runs' signifies the action performed by he/she/it.
3. The pronunciation of -s can vary based on the preceding sound: it sounds like /s/ after voiceless consonants (e.g., 'cats'), /z/ after voiced consonants and vowels (e.g., 'dogs'), and /ɪz/ after sibilant sounds (e.g., 'wishes').
4. There are exceptions in English where irregular nouns do not take -s for their plural forms, such as 'man' becoming 'men' instead.
5. Understanding how to correctly use -s is crucial for grammatical accuracy and clarity in communication.

Review Questions

• How does the use of -s in English contribute to the understanding of subject-verb agreement?
  • -s plays a significant role in subject-verb agreement by marking the third-person singular form of verbs. For example, when we say 'she runs', the addition of -s to 'run' signals that the subject is third-person singular. This agreement is essential for clarity and grammatical correctness; mismatches like 'she run' would confuse the listener or reader regarding who is performing the action.
• Compare the different functions of -s when used with nouns versus when used with verbs.
  • -s serves distinct functions depending on whether it is attached to nouns or verbs. When used with nouns, -s indicates plurality, showing that more than one entity is involved, such as changing 'dog' to 'dogs'. In contrast, when added to verbs, -s marks the third-person singular present tense, changing 'walk' to 'walks'. These functions highlight how -s aids in conveying both quantity and time-related actions within sentences.
• Evaluate the impact of irregular nouns on the application of the -s morpheme in forming plurals and how this reflects the complexities of English morphology.
  • Irregular nouns challenge the standard application of the -s morpheme by not conforming to typical pluralization rules. For instance, while most nouns form plurals by simply adding -s or -es, words like 'child' become 'children', demonstrating an alternative morphological pattern. This complexity reveals the rich history and evolution of the English language, where remnants of Old English still influence modern grammar. Understanding these irregular forms is essential for mastering English morphology and ensuring proper usage.

Related terms

Inflection:

A morphological process that modifies a word to express different grammatical categories such as tense, mood, voice, aspect, person, number, gender, and case.

Morpheme:

The smallest grammatical unit in a language, which can be a word or a part of a word that carries meaning, such as prefixes, suffixes, or roots.

Plurality: A grammatical category that refers to the state of being plural, indicating that there are multiple entities being referred to.