A rule or a formula?

Hi, Gilbert,

@gilbert posted:

In the world of grammar, are the following considered rules or formulas?:

•      For verbs that end in o, ch, sh, th, ss, gh, or z, add -es.
•      Subject + is/am/are + Verb (+ing)

I'd call the first one a rule (for the formation of the Present Simple in the third person singular), and the second one, a pattern (for the formation of the Present Continuous).

Please note that after "gh" we add "-s," not "-es": laugh - laughs

@Gustavo, Co-Moderator posted:

I'd call the first one a rule (for the formation of the Present Simple in the third person singular), and the second one, a pattern (for the formation of the Present Continuous).

Hi, Gustavo.

Thank you for your response which is much appreciated.

I asked this 'silly' question because a grammar website I had visited called it a formula. That rattled me because I had learnt them as grammar rules.  You've called the second one a pattern, so I'll go with that. Thank you.

@Gustavo, Co-Moderator posted:

Please note that after "gh" we add "-s," not "-es": laugh - laughs

Aiyo, Gustavo, this is embarrassing as I should have known that!

Truth be told, I merely copied those word endings (o, ch, sh, th, ss, gh, or z) from a website and pasted it here as a sample of a 'rule/formula'. Now that you've picked up on my gh blunder, I think th and gh shouldn't be there, either. I believe x  should also be included in the list, and z should be written as zz.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, Gustavo.

Many thanks.

p.s. Aiyo is listed in the Oxford Learners Dictionary as an exclamation. It is a commonly used word here in Malaysia.

@gilbert posted:

Now that you've picked up on my gh blunder, I think th and gh shouldn't be there, either. I believe x  should also be included in the list, and z should be written as zz.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, Gustavo.

I agree with you, Gilbert.

We should also add that verbs ending in consonant + y change the ending to -ies.