How do you know when to put an es at the end of a word?

You put an "es" at the end of a word when you are adding the plural form of a noun that ends in "s," "x," "ch," "sh," or "z." Here's how it works:

* Nouns ending in "s," "x," "ch," "sh," or "z": These nouns add "es" to make them plural.

* Example: bus → buses, box → boxes, church → churches, wish → wishes, buzz → buzzes

Why "es"?

This rule is based on how these sounds are pronounced. Adding just an "s" wouldn't change the sound of the word significantly, making it difficult to hear the difference between the singular and plural form.

Important Notes:

* Exceptions: There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as words like "bus," "gas," and "boss," which can be either "busses" or "buses," "gasses" or "gases," and "bosses" or "bossess." These are often more informal and less common.

* Proper Nouns: This rule also applies to proper nouns ending in "s," "x," "ch," "sh," or "z." For example, "Jones" becomes "Joneses" when referring to multiple people named Jones.

Let me know if you have any other grammar questions!