Common Spelling Rules Worksheet for 3rd Grade English & Language Arts | 7-Year-Old Students

Instructions

Read the spelling rules below. Look at the examples, and then try the fun activities for each rule!

Spelling Rule 1: Making Plurals with -s and -es

To make most words mean "more than one," we just add an -s.

• cat → cats
• dog → dogs

But... if a word ends in s, x, z, ch, or sh, we add -es to make it easier to say!

• bus → buses
• box → boxes
• wish → wishes

Your Turn! Add -s or -es to make these words mean "more than one."

1. book → _______________
2. fox → _______________
3. lunch → _______________
4. chair → _______________
5. glass → _______________
6. dish → _______________

Spelling Rule 2: Dropping the Silent 'e'

When a word ends with a silent 'e', we drop the 'e' before adding an ending that starts with a vowel, like -ing or -ed.

• make + ing → making (We dropped the 'e'!)
• smile + ed → smiled (We dropped the 'e'!)

Your Turn! Create the new word by adding the ending.

1. bake + -ing = _______________
2. hope + -ed = _______________
3. use + -ing = _______________
4. race + -ed = _______________

Spelling Rule 3: Changing 'y' to 'i'

If a word ends in a consonant and then a 'y', change the 'y' to an 'i' before adding an ending like -es or -ed.

• puppy → puppies
• cry → cried

Watch out! If a vowel comes before the 'y' (like in boy or key), just add -s. (boys, keys)

Your Turn! Change the 'y' to an 'i' and add -es to make these words plural.

1. baby → _______________
2. story → _______________
3. fly → _______________
4. party → _______________

Spelling Challenge!

Read the sentences below. Find the 5 misspelled words. Circle them and write the correct spelling on the line.

The two ponys were hopeing to eat. My friend tryed to give them a snack from one of the lunchs he packed. He smileed when they ate it!

1. _______________
2. _______________
3. _______________
4. _______________
5. _______________

Answer Key

Spelling Rule 1: Making Plurals with -s and -es

1. books
2. foxes
3. lunches
4. chairs
5. glasses
6. dishes

Spelling Rule 2: Dropping the Silent 'e'

1. baking
2. hoped
3. using
4. raced

Spelling Rule 3: Changing 'y' to 'i'

1. babies
2. stories
3. flies
4. parties

Spelling Challenge!

1. ponies (ponys)
2. hoping (hopeing)
3. tried (tryed)
4. lunches (lunchs)
5. smiled (smileed)