The y-to-i rule worksheets

By grade

• 2nd Grade Right on level
• 3rd Grade A step harder

What students need to know

When a word ends in a consonant plus y, the y changes to i before most endings: cry becomes cried, happy becomes happier. The one ending that never takes the swap is -ing: crying keeps its y.

This skill runs from 2nd grade through 3rd grade. Pick a grade above for level-matched sentences, teaching notes, and worksheets.

The y-to-i rule across the grades

2nd grade

Words ending in a consonant plus y trade the y for an i before most endings: cry, cried; happy, happier. Second graders apply the swap and meet the contrast case: a vowel before the y (play, enjoy) means no change.

3rd grade

Third graders run the rule automatically across -ed, -er, -est, and -es, and can say why played keeps its y while carried loses one. The -ing exception (crying, not criing) rounds out the system: English simply refuses a double i.