Which word should replace the underlined word? “Three [childs] were waiting at the bus stop.”

Use Standard Grammar, Usage, and Spelling to Edit · TELPAS Grade 3 writing. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Reporting category 2: find and fix an error in a short text. On the real test some of these are typed answers or sentence rewrites. Here they are multiple choice so they can be checked.

The question

Choose the best answer.

Read the sentence. The underlined word has an error. Three [childs] were waiting at the bus stop. Which word should replace the underlined word?

• Achild
• BchildrenCorrect answer
• Cchildrens
• Dchildes

Why “children” is correct

This tests an irregular plural. Child does not become plural by adding -s; the plural is children. Three tells us the word must be plural.

Why the other answers are wrong

• child — Child is singular, but three needs a plural word.
• childrens — Children is already plural, so adding -s is wrong.
• childes — Childes is not a word; child has an irregular plural.

Practice more of this

More writing practice for Grade 3, or see the TELPAS practice test for 3rd grade.