Flies By vs. Flys By – Which is Correct?
The correct phrase is flies by, which means time passes quickly. The spelling “flys by” is a common grammatical error and should be avoided. Always use “flies by” when referring to the rapid passage of time or the action of something that flies past.
Flies By or Flys By – Which is Correct?
When considering whether to use “flies by” or “flys by,” the correct choice is unequivocally flies by. The phrase refers to the rapid passage of time, as in “time flies by,” or the action of something moving quickly past an observer. “Flys by” is a common misspelling, often arising from confusion with the standard English rule of changing ‘y’ to ‘ies’ for plural nouns (e.g., “butterfly” to “butterflies”) or for third-person singular present tense verbs ending in ‘y’ preceded by a consonant (e.g., “try” to “tries”). However, for the verb “to fly,” the third-person singular present tense is “flies,” not “flys.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| flies by | Verb Phrase | Passes quickly (especially time); moves rapidly past | “It feels like yesterday, time really flies by.” |
| flys by | Misspelling | Incorrect spelling of “flies by” | (Incorrect) “The eagle flys by the mountain peak.” |
How to Use Flies By
“Flies by” is a common idiomatic expression used to describe the rapid passage of time. It can also literally describe something that moves quickly through the air past a point. It’s generally used in informal to semi-formal contexts but is perfectly acceptable in most writing. The key is to remember that “flies” is the correct third-person singular present tense conjugation of the verb “to fly.”
Example 1: “When you’re having fun, the hours just flies by.”
Example 2: “Every year, summer vacation flies by much too quickly.”
Example 3: “The small plane flies by the tower every morning.”
What are the different forms of Flies By?
The phrase “flies by” itself is a specific conjugation of the verb “to fly” combined with the preposition “by.” The verb “to fly” has several forms:
- Base form: fly (e.g., “I fly”)
- Past Simple: flew (e.g., “He flew”)
- Past Participle: flown (e.g., “They have flown”)
- Present Participle/Gerund: flying (e.g., “She is flying”)
- Third-person singular present: flies (e.g., “Time flies”)
Thus, “flies by” uses the third-person singular present tense of “fly.” Other forms could be “time flew by,” “time has flown by,” or “time is flying by.”
Etymology of the word Flies By
The word “fly” comes from the Old English “flēogan,” meaning “to soar, take flight, flee.” Its Germanic roots relate to movement through the air. The ‘y’ to ‘ies’ rule is a common pattern in English verb conjugation and noun pluralization, particularly for words of Germanic origin where the ‘y’ follows a consonant. The “by” in “flies by” functions as a preposition indicating movement past something or the passage of time. The idiomatic use of “time flies” dates back to at least the 14th century, with the full phrase “time flies by” becoming common later to emphasize the swiftness of its passage.
Related Concepts
The core concept here revolves around verb conjugation, specifically the third-person singular present tense. Many English verbs ending in ‘y’ behave differently depending on whether the ‘y’ is preceded by a vowel or a consonant. For verbs where ‘y’ is preceded by a vowel (like “play”), the ‘s’ is simply added to form the third-person singular present tense (“plays”). However, for verbs where ‘y’ is preceded by a consonant (like “study”), the ‘y’ changes to ‘ies’ (“studies”). The verb “to fly” follows this rule, as the ‘y’ is preceded by the consonant ‘l’, resulting in “flies.” Misspellings like “flys” often occur when this specific rule is misapplied or confused with the simpler addition of ‘s’ for other verbs.
Examples from Media and Literature
- “It’s true what they say, time flies by when you’re having fun.” – Common idiom
- “The years seemed to flies by with an alarming speed, each one blurring into the next.” – Fictional narrative
- “As the final seconds ticked away, the ball just flies by the goalpost, missing by inches.” – Sports commentary
- “Despite the challenges, her determination never wavered, and the difficult moments somehow flies by.” – Biographical account
- “He watched as the flock of geese flies by in a perfect V-formation, heading south for the winter.” – Nature documentary script
Flies By Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Passes quickly | To elapse rapidly, often referring to time. |
| Speeds by | To move past at a high velocity. |
| Races past | To move very quickly beyond a point. |
| Whizzes by | To move quickly with a humming or hissing sound. |
| Goes fast | To proceed at a rapid pace. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Why is “flies by” correct and “flys by” incorrect?
“Flies by” is correct because “flies” is the proper third-person singular present tense conjugation of the verb “to fly.” English grammar rules dictate that for verbs ending in ‘y’ preceded by a consonant (like ‘l’ in ‘fly’), the ‘y’ changes to ‘ies’ for this tense. “Flys” is a common misspelling that does not follow this rule.
Question 2: Does “flies by” only refer to time?
While “time flies by” is a very common idiom, “flies by” can also literally describe something that moves quickly through the air past a point. For example, “The bird flies by my window every morning.”
Question 3: How can I remember the correct spelling?
Think of other verbs that follow the same rule: “cry” becomes “cries,” “try” becomes “tries,” “study” becomes “studies.” Since ‘fly’ ends in ‘y’ preceded by a consonant (‘l’), it follows the ‘y’ to ‘ies’ pattern: “flies.”
Conclusion
In the common usage of describing the swift passage of time or rapid movement, flies by is the only grammatically correct option. “Flys by” is a prevalent misspelling that should be avoided in all forms of writing. Understanding the rules of verb conjugation, specifically how verbs ending in ‘y’ change in the third-person singular present tense, is key to mastering this distinction. Always remember that when time is moving quickly, it “flies by.”
Pro Tip: Consistent and correct grammar enhances your credibility. Using “flies by” correctly demonstrates attention to detail and a strong command of the English language, crucial for professional communication.
