Grammar Cheatsheet Pronunciation
Focus: extra syllable /ɪz/ for words ending in c/ce, s, ss, sh, ch, x, z, ge. (Examples: bus → buses /ˈbʌsɪz/; watch → watches /ˈwɒtʃɪz/; judge → judges /ˈdʒʌdʒɪz/.)
/ɪz/ (extra syllable)
- Nouns or verbs ending in s, ss, sh, ch, x, z, ge, c/ce → add -es and say /ɪz/.
- bus → buses, class → classes, brush → brushes, watch → watches, box → boxes, quiz → quizzes, judge → judges, price → prices.
/s/ (no extra syllable)
- Voiceless final sound → plural/3rd person is /s/.
- cup → cups, cat → cats, lamp → lamps, walk → walks.
/z/ (no extra syllable)
- Voiced final sound or vowel → plural/3rd person is /z/.
- bag → bags, pen → pens, play → plays is /z/.
Fictional Story — “Boxes and Wishes at Bliss Bakery”
Morning rush fills Bliss Bakery. Lina manages the counter while Marco boxes cupcakes. A long line pushes forward; a tourist group watches the ovens with big eyes. A child wishes for “the chocolate-cherry churros,” pointing again and again.
Suddenly, a delivery driver arrives with two heavy packages. The label reads “fragile.” Marco checks the list and places the boxes near the register. “This order matches the festival list,” he says. Lina rushes to print the badges for pickup.
But something changes. The system freezes, and the screen flashes. A customer complains, “My receipt never arrives.” Meanwhile, the driver buzzes the door a second time. On the phone, the event planner voices a worry: “Our schedule clashes with traffic.”
Lina breathes, smiles, and improvises. She opens a backup app, finishes the receipts, and manages to keep the line moving. In the end, everyone grabs their pastries; the planner promises to tip the staff; Marco closes the register and washes the trays. The long morning passes—and the bakery’s rhythm balances again.
1) The delivery driver ______ the door twice.
2) Lina ______ to keep the line moving.
3) Marco ______ cupcakes during the rush.
4) The festival schedule ______ with traffic.
5) The printer ______ the badges.
1) Choose the forms that have an extra syllable /ɪz/.
2) Which does not have /ɪz/?
3) Pick all with /ɪz/.
Dialogue 1 — “The Labels” (10 lines)
- Lina: The printer finishes the badges in five minutes.
- Marco: The schedule clashes with traffic again.
- Lina: The manager changes the pickup time, then.
- Marco: The driver buzzes when he arrives.
- Lina: The cashier washes the counter after each rush.
- Marco: The list matches the invoice now.
- Lina: The app freezes sometimes, but the backup works.
- Marco: The team manages the line better today.
- Lina: The child wishes for two boxes of churros.
- Marco: The group watches the ovens and smiles.
Dialogue 2 — “After the Rush” (10 lines)
- Marco: The line passes, and the noise drops.
- Lina: The planner promises to write good reviews.
- Marco: The boss judges our speed by the clock.
- Lina: The cart rolls, and the box slides.
- Marco: The sticker peels, but the tag sticks.
- Lina: The timer buzzes; the baker places trays on the rack.
- Marco: The sink clogs, but the plumber fixes it.
- Lina: The table wobbles; the mat balances it.
- Marco: The lock clicks, and the door closes.
- Lina: The evening comes, and the work finishes.
Discussion & Writing
- Tell a story about a busy store or café where small problems appear. Use at least 8 words that take /ɪz/.
- Make a list of jobs that often use verbs ending in -sh, -ch, -x, -z, -s, -ss, -ge, or -ce in the 3rd person.
- Pronunciation practice: Write 10 nouns that take -es and mark the stress.
Role Play — “Customer Pickup”
Student A is the event planner; Student B is the bakery manager. Use at least 6 target words and confirm pronunciation together.
Answer Key (toggle)
Show/Hide Answers
Vocabulary Matching A
- boxes → containers, cartons
- wishes → hopes; things you want
- watches → looks at; observes
- matches → goes together with; fits
- brushes → cleans with a brush
- judges → decides if something is good or bad
- prices → costs; how much things are
- badges → name tags or small ID cards
Vocabulary Matching B
- boxes → puts items into a box
- washes → cleans with water/soap
- places → puts something in a spot
- clashes → conflicts; does not fit the time/plan
- buzzes → rings the door or phone with a buzz
- manages → controls or directs something
- finishes → completes
- changes → becomes different
Vocabulary in Context
- buzzes
- manages
- boxes
- clashes
- finishes
MCQ
- Correct: washes, watches
- Correct: grabs
- Correct: prices, boxes, buzzes
Cloze (paragraph)
boxes; wishes; watches; matches; washes; promises; freezes; flashes; arrives; reads; clashes; voices; passes; closes; places; finishes; pushes; manages
Transformations
- brushes
- badges
- watches
- places
- buzzes
- prices
- changes
- matches
- wishes
- boxes