1. Plural of nouns ending in -y:
* This is the most common use of "-ies". It forms the plural of nouns ending in "-y" preceded by a consonant.
* Example: "baby" becomes "babies"
* Exception: If the "-y" is preceded by a vowel, the plural is formed by simply adding "-s".
* Example: "boy" becomes "boys"
2. Adjective ending:
* "-ies" can indicate an adjective, especially referring to a quality or characteristic.
* Example: "crafty" becomes "crafties" (although this usage is less common)
3. Verb ending (archaic):
* In older English, "-ies" was sometimes used as a verb ending, particularly in the third person singular present tense.
* Example: "He flies" could have been "He flieth".
4. Shortened form:
* In some cases, "-ies" can be a shortened form of "things" or "items".
* Example: "What are those goodies you're eating?"
It's important to consider the context of the word to understand the meaning of "-ies".