In most cases, when you’re making the past form of a verb that ends with “y,” you must change the “y” to “i” before adding -ed at the end.
Of course, this rule only applies to regular verbs for irregular verbs like “run,” you must memorize all three forms of the verb. Usually, you can build verb 2 by simply adding -ed to the end of the verb. Every subject uses the past form of the verb, which we also call verb 2. In the simple past, the verb doesn’t change based on the subject. But, if the simple form of the verb ends with “y,” you have to change the “y” to “ie” before adding the “s” at the end of the verb. You can see the pattern: in the present tense, third-person singular subjects - like he, she, and it - have a verb with an “s” at the end. This is an easy rule, but verbs ending with “y” have a special exception about the spelling of the verb.īasically, if the verb 1 ends with “y,” you need to change the “y” to “ie” before adding the “s.” So, instead of writing -ys at the end of the verb, you’ll write -ies. However, for subjects that are in the third person and singular (such as “he,” “she,” “it”), we add an “s” to the end of verb 1 ( source). When we use the simple present tense, we use the simple form of the verb, which we also call verb 1.įor subjects that are in the first or second person (such as “I,” “we,” and “you”), verb 1 doesn’t change.įor subjects that are third person and plural (i.e., “they”), verb 1 doesn’t change. Simple Present Tense and Verbs That End With Y Let’s see how these rules apply to each situation. Verbs that end with the letter “y” have some special spelling exceptions, especially when we conjugate them in the simple present tense, the simple past tense (verb 2), the present participle (verb+ing), and the past participle (verb 3). Let’s break down some of the grammar and spelling rules that explain why it is correct to say, “Time flies.” Verbs That End With Y Our final result is the sentence “time flies.” However, to do this, we have to follow the spelling exception for verbs that end with “y,” so we change the end of the verb to -ies ( source). If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Is it correct to say, ‘Time flies’?” yes, it is! This is because it’s a sentence in the simple present tense, and the subject “time” is a noncount noun that acts as singular third-person “it” in this sentence.īecause of this, we need to conjugate the verb “to fly” by adding “s” at the end.
In this article, we’ll cover the spelling rules involved as well as the proper usage of this phrase. To add the necessary “s,” we must drop the -y and add -ies.īasically, our noncount noun “time” acts as third-person “he/she/it,” so we need to add “s” in the third-person singular present tense. This is because “time” is a noncount noun, and we’re using the verb “to fly” in the simple present tense and in the singular, third-person form. The correct spelling is “time flies,” which means that time can pass without you realizing it. You’re enjoying the atmosphere and company of your friends and, suddenly, you look at your watch and realize that it’s much later than you thought! You didn’t notice that the time was passing, so, in this situation, we say that “time flies,” or is it “time flys”?