# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Woodward English - Learning English - Teaching English

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The number of the day

For dates in spoken English, we always use ordinal numbers, i.e. Fourthof July, not Four of July.

Ordinal numbers = Numbers that show the order or sequence. Normally a -TH appears at the end of the number. e.g. seven ... seven th

However the ordinal numbers that are highlighted in red in the chart below are irregular or have a slight change in spelling. See our complete lesson about Ordinal Numbers in English.

In spoken English we ALWAYS use ordinal numbers for dates. However in written English you may write a normal (cardinal) number without the -TH or -ST etc. after it. Even if it is not written, the ordinal number is still said in spoken English. In United States it is NOT common to put the -th after the number in written English.

Order of Days and Months when saying the date

There are two ways of giving the date in English:

Month + Day: December 25 - used in United States.* OR

Day + Month: 25th December - used in the rest of the world.

* The exception is with the name of the US celebration the Fourth of July.

How to say the YEARS in English

Years are normally divided into two parts; the first two digits and the last two digits. **

2017 is divided into 20 and 17 so you would say twenty seventeen.

** For the exceptions, see our entire lesson about How to say the YEAR in English.

Writing the date in English

Be careful when writing the dates using only numbers.

For example, Christmas day is written:

12 / 25 / 17 in United States (the month is first) and

25 / 12 / 17 in the rest of the world (the day is first).

So what day is this? 3/4/17

It depends on the country. It can be:

March fourth, twenty seventeen (in United States) OR

The third of April, twenty seventeen (in the rest of the world)

There's a big difference, isn't there!

To avoid confusion, when writing an email or any other written form of English, it is best to write the month as its name (January, February, etc.) or its abbreviation (Jan. Feb. etc.) and NOT as its number.

And remember, the months are always written in Capital letters.

In US English, a comma is put after the day if it is followed by a year.

How can you ask for the date in English?

The main ways of asking the date are:

What day is it today?
- People will probably respond with a day of the week (It's Monday) or the number (It's the 19th).

What date is it?
- People may give you the number (It's the 19th) or the day/month (It's 19th May or May 19th). They will not answer with a day of the week.

What is the date (today)? OR What is today's date?
- This is another way where you will get a number as an answer.

The response to your question will most likely start with...

Summary Chart

Now, answer these questions

When is your birthday?

When were you born?

When is New Year's Eve?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to say the DATE in English Woodward English

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How to say the date in English - American English vs. British English

# data[].attributes.body
Vocabulary expressions

# data[].attributes.body
It's a video

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Telling the Time in English | Learn how to tell the time in English with Pronunciation

# data[].attributes.body
It's a summary chart
http://www.woodwardenglish.com/telling-the-time-in-english/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Plural Nouns and Verbs in Third Person

The pronunciation of S at the end of plural nouns, verbs in third person and as a part of the possessive case sometimes causes problems for non-native speakers because it can be pronounced in three different ways: / ɪz /, / s / or / z /.

(Note: whenever you see letters or symbols between two slash marks (/ /), it refers to the pronunciation of that letter or sound)

The pronunciation depends on the last sound of the verb or noun which is usually a consonant. Before we learn the difference ways to pronounce the final S, we must first know what voiced and voiceless consonants are as well as sibilant sounds:

Voiced Consonants vs. Voiceless Consonants

A voiced consonant (or sound) means that it uses the vocal cords and they produce a vibration or humming sound in the throat when they are said. Put your finger on your throat and then pronounce the letter L. You will notice a slight vibration in your neck / throat. That is because it is a voiced sound.

A voiceless sound (sometimes called unvoiced sound) is when there is no vibration in your throat and the sound comes from the mouth area. Pronounce the letter P. You will notice how it comes from your mouth (in fact near your lips at the front of your mouth). The P sound doesn't come from your throat.

Try this with the other letters and you will "feel" the difference between a voiced and a voiceless consonant (or sound).

Sibilant Sounds

Another sound which is relevant to this is the sibilant sound which is produced by forcing air out toward your teeth. It is characterized by a hissing sound (sssss), a buzzing sound (zzzzz) or the sound teachers make when they want you to be quiet (shhhh!).

Z like the sound a bee makes... zzzzzz

S like the sound a snake makes... sssssss

SH like the sound a teacher makes when they want you to be quiet... shhhhh

Now we know the difference between voiced, voiceless and sibilant sounds we can look at the following rules for the correct pronunciation of S at the end of words in English:

The pronunciation of the S at the end of words in English

The pronunciation of the final S in plural words and verbs in the third person depend on the final consonant sound before that S.

The ending is pronounced /s/ after a voiceless sound, it is pronounced /z/ after a voiced sound and is pronounced /ɪz / or /əz/ after a sibilant sound:

Voiceless: helps /ps/ -- sits /ts/ -- looks /ks/

Voiced: crabs /bz/ -- words /dz/ -- gloves /vz/,

Sibilant: buses /sɪz / or /səz /, bridges /dʒɪz / or /dʒəz /, wishes /shɪz / or /shəz /

1. The /ɪz/ sound (or /əz/ sound)

Sometimes this sound is written as /əz/ and uses the symbol "schwa" or "upside down e" before the z. For ease we will write this sound as /ɪz/ or /iz/

If the last consonant sound of the word is a sibilant sound (a hissing or buzzing sound), the final S is pronounced as /ɪz/. This /ɪz/ sound is pronounced like an extra syllable. (e.g. the word buses has two syllables)

If the sound has a J sound (/dʒ/ like the letter J at the beginning of the word jacket or /ʒ/ like the S in pleasure), then the final S is also pronounced as /ɪz/.
Examples of words ending in the /ɪz/ sound:

C: races (sounds like "race-iz")

S: pauses, nurses, buses, rises

X: fixes, boxes, hoaxes

Z: amazes, freezes, prizes, quizzes

SS: kisses, misses, passes, bosses

CH: churches, sandwiches, witches, teaches

SH: dishes, wishes, pushes, crashes

GE: garages, changes, ages, judges

Remember: after verbs ending in -sh, -ch, -ss and -x, we add the -es to the end of the verb (in third person) and the pronunciation is /iz/ as an extra syllable.

2. The /s/ sound

If the last consonant of the word is voiceless, then the S is pronounced as /s/. Be careful not to create an extra syllable.

NOTE: The consonants c, s, sh, ch and x are voiceless though they use the sibilants ending seen above.
Examples of words ending in the /s/ sound:

P: cups stops, sleeps

T: hats, students, hits, writes

K: cooks, books, drinks, walks

F: cliffs, sniffs, beliefs, laughs, graphs (the -gh and -ph here are pronounced like a F)

TH: myths, tablecloths, months (voiceless th)

3. The /z/ sound

If the last letter of the words ends in a voiced consonant (or sound), then the S is pronounced like a Z /z/(without creating another syllable). This Z sound is similar to the sound a bee makes zzzz.

We also use this ending when the word ends in a vowel sound (e.g. bees, flies etc.)
Examples of words ending in the /z/ sound:

B: crabs, rubs

D: cards, words, rides, ends

G: rugs, bags, begs

L: deals calls, falls, hills

M: plums, dreams

N: fans, drains, runs, pens

NG: kings, belongs, sings

R: wears, cures

V: gloves, wives, shelves, drives

Y: plays, boys, says,

THE: clothes, bathes, breathes

VOWEL SOUNDS: sees, fleas

Pronunciation of S cheat sheet

Pronunciation Practice

Next activities

Pronunciation Rules:
You might be interested in the Pronunciation of -ED at the end of words in English.

Grammar Rules:
How to make plural nouns in English and Verbs in Third Person

If you found this guide about the Pronunciation of S in English useful, let others know about it:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How to pronounce words ending in S in English including plural nouns, verbs in third person and in the possessive case.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
(1) Fotos de la biografía - Learn English Online

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The English Student, www.theenglishstudent, the english students, the english student blog, ESL, grammar, writing         Repinned by Chesap… | Writing | Pinterest | Grammar, English grammar and English

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The English Student, www.theenglishstudent, the english students, the english student blog, ESL, grammar, writing         Repinned by Chesapeake College Adult Ed. We offer free classes on the Eastern Shore of MD to help you earn your GED - H.S. Diploma or Learn English (ESL).  www.Chesapeake.edu

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The tips on this chart will help students to become masters at writing. Chart includes reproducibles and activity ideas on the back to reinforce writing skills. 17" x 22"

# data[].attributes.body
Order of elements in a sentence

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Es para inglés pero aplica en español :)

# data[].attributes.body
grammar, vocabulary, etc.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
British Council LearnEnglish Teens | Free resources for teens to help improve your English

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
LearnEnglish Teens provides information, tips and resources to help teenagers learn English.