Which word should replace the underlined word? “In the fall, the [leafs] on our tree turn orange and red.”

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. In the fall, the [leafs] on our tree turn orange and red. Which word should replace the underlined word?

• Aleaf
• Bleafes
• CleavesCorrect answer
• Dleave

Why “leaves” is correct

This tests an irregular plural spelling. Many words that end in f change the f to v and add -es to become plural, so leaf becomes leaves, as half becomes halves. The verb turn, without an -s, also tells us the subject is plural.

Why the other answers are wrong

• leaf — Leaf is singular, but the sentence is about many leaves on the tree.
• leafes — Leafes is not a word; the f changes to v.
• leave — Leave is a different word that means to go away.

Practice more of this

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