The use of the letters S and Z can raise a number of questions. This is mainly because there are words that are written with an S but have a Z sound.
To help you with this, Toda Matéria has the rules for you, followed by examples and exercises. Let's start?
When to use S
1. In words derived from another that is written with S.
Examples:
- wing - wing
- delay - delay
- phrase - phrase
- standstill - standstill
- heavy - weight
2. In words whose suffixes indicate nationality, origin or title (-are you, -this), adjective (-ensemble, -bone, -ow) or female occupation (-isa).
Examples:
- portuguese, portuguese
- peasant, peasant
- fussy - fussy
- duchess
- poetess
3. After diphthong.
Examples:
- thing
- pheasant
- cornstarch
- Neusa
- rest
4. In words that result from the conjugation of the verbs to put and to want.
Examples:
- I put.
- If I did.
- When I want.
- They wanted.
- If I wanted.
Read too Spelling: what is it, spelling rules and exercises.
When to use Z
1. In words derived from another that is written with Z.
Examples:
- slide - slide
- rooted - root
- enjoy - enjoy
- achievement - perform
- neighborhood - neighbor
2. In words whose suffixes -ez, -hey form abstract nouns from adjectives.
Examples:
- good sense
- shyness
- toughness
- greatness
- easy
3. In words whose suffix -go form verbs.
Examples:
- update
- channel
- save money
- eternalize
- symbolize
4. In words whose suffix -location form nouns.
Examples:
- update
- colonization
- modernization
- Realization
- use
Exercises
1. (Fuvest-SP)
a) Form feminine nouns from the words below, using conveniently s or z:
| clean | defend | baron | deaf | customer |
- clean: abstract noun formed from the adjective "clean", hence the suffix -hey is spelled with Z.
- defense: abstract noun formed from the verb "defender" (different from "cleansing").
- baroness: the suffix -this indicates title, so it is written with S.
- deafness: abstract noun formed from the adjective "deaf", hence the suffix -ez is spelled with Z.
- freguesa: derives from the word "freguesia", which is written with an S.
b) Form verbs from:
| analyze | synthesis | paralysis | civil | smooth |
- analysis - analyze: when the suffix -go verb form, we write with Z.
- synthesis - synthesize: when the suffix -go verb form, we write with Z.
- paralysis - paralyze: when the suffix is added -air in verbs, they must be written with S.
- civil - civilize: when the suffix -go verb form, we write with Z.
- smooth - smooth: when adding the suffix -air in verbs, they must be written with S.
2. (Badesc/Fepese) Tick the alternative where all gaps are filled with s:
a) poor, chinese*, perform
b) princess, mount*, civilize
c) attracted, cut*, analyze
d) smooth, French*, save
Alternative c: late, courteous, analyze.
Formal:
- delayed - word derived from "delay", which is spelled with S.
- courteous - word derived from "courtesy", which is spelled with an S.
- analyze - when adding the suffix -ar to verbs, they must be written with S. But when the suffix -izar is added to verbs, they must be written with Z.
As for the other alternatives:
a) poverty, Chinese, perform
b) princess, mountain, civilize
d) smoothed, French, save
3. (Unimep-SP) Check the alternative that contains the period whose words are correctly spelled:
a) He wanted to analyze the research I carried out.
b) He wanted to analyze the research I carried out.
c) He wanted to analyze the research I carried out.
d) He wanted to analyze the research I carried out.
e) He wanted to analyze the research I carried out.
Alternative c: He wanted to analyze the research I carried out.
- quis - we write with S words that result from the conjugation of the verb to want.
- analyze - when adding the suffix -ar to verbs, they must be written with S.
- search - the etymology of the word is written with an S. Thus, "research" and words derived from it are also spelled with an S, such as: researcher, researched.
Keep testing your knowledge on Spelling Exercises.