Words Ending in -Y — Spelling Rules

Words Ending in -Y — Spelling Rules

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Spelling Rules for Words Ending in -Y
Change -y to -ies when adding -s
Change -y to -ied when adding -ed
Change -y to -ier/-iest when adding -er/-est
Change -y to -i when forming new words
Words Ending in -Y—Spelling Rules Exercise
See Also

Changing -y to -ies when adding -s		Changing -y to -ied when adding -ed

Changing -y to -ier/-iest when adding -er/-est		Changing -y to -i when forming new words

Some words ending in -y change their ending when they are:

plural nouns
conjugated verbs in the 3rd person singular of the simple present
conjugated regular verbs in the simple past
used as comparative or superlative adjectives
made into new words

Spelling Rules for Words Ending in -Y

Change -y to -ies when adding -s

Adding an -s to a word ending in -y is spelled:

-ies when following a consonant
-ys when following a vowel

The word “babies” is spelled b-a-b-i-e-s. The word “monkeys” is spelled m-o-n-ke-y-s.

Used with plural nouns and verbs conjugated in the simple present with the 3rd person singular.

Change -y to -ied when adding -ed

Adding -ed to a word ending in -y is spelled:

-ied when following a consonant
-yed when following a vowel

The verb “studied” is spelled s-t-u-d-i-e-d. The verb “played” is spelled p-l-a-y-e-d.

Used with irregular verbs in the simple past.

Change -y to -ier/-iest when adding -er/-est

Adding -er/-est to a word ending in -y is spelled:

-ier/-iest when following a consonant
-yer/-yest when following a vowel

The word “funnier” is spelled f-u-n-n-i-e-r and the word “funniest” is spelled f-u-n-n-i-e-s-t. The word “greyer” is spelled g-r-e-y-e-r and the “greyest” is spelled g-r-e-y-e-s-t.

Used with comparative and superlative adjectives.

Change -y to -i when forming new words

When adding a suffix to a word ending in -y to form new words:

Change the -y to an -i when following a consonant.
Keep the -y when it follows a vowel.
Always keep the -y when adding the suffix -ing: no matter if it is following a vowel or a consonant.

The word “beautiful” is spelled b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. The word “employee” is spelled e-m-p-l-o-y-e-e. The word “crying” is spelled c-r-y-i-n-g.

Words Ending in -Y—Spelling Rules Exercise

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See Also