ESL Learner’s Guide to Verbs with ‘S’

Mastering the use of verbs with ‘s’ is a crucial step for ESL learners aiming for fluency and accuracy in English. This seemingly small addition to a verb transforms its meaning and grammatical function, particularly in the present simple tense.

Understanding when and how to use verbs with ‘s’ correctly is essential for constructing grammatically sound sentences and effectively communicating your ideas. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of verbs with ‘s’, covering definitions, structural rules, usage guidelines, common mistakes, and ample practice exercises.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will help you confidently navigate this fundamental aspect of English grammar, leading to clearer and more precise communication.

Table of Contents

• Definition of Verbs with ‘S’
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories
• Examples of Verbs with ‘S’
• Usage Rules
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics
• FAQ
• Conclusion

Definition of Verbs with ‘S’

Verbs with ‘s’ are typically used in the present simple tense to indicate actions or states that occur regularly, habitually, or are generally true. The addition of ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the base form of a verb is specifically applied to the third-person singular subjects: he, she, it, and singular nouns that can be replaced by these pronouns. This grammatical feature helps to distinguish the subject and maintain subject-verb agreement, a fundamental principle in English grammar. Understanding this concept is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences and conveying intended meanings accurately.

In essence, verbs with ‘s’ signal a specific relationship between the subject performing the action and the verb itself. They are not used with other subjects (I, you, we, they) in the present simple tense. This seemingly simple rule is often a source of confusion for ESL learners, highlighting the importance of focused practice and clear understanding.

The function of verbs with ‘s’ extends beyond simple grammatical agreement. They also contribute to the overall clarity and flow of communication.

When used correctly, they ensure that sentences are easily understood and that the intended meaning is accurately conveyed. Conversely, incorrect usage can lead to confusion and misinterpretation, underscoring the importance of mastering this grammatical concept.

Structural Breakdown

The structure of verbs with ‘s’ follows a straightforward pattern, but variations exist depending on the base form of the verb. The basic rule is to add ‘s’ to the base form of the verb when the subject is third-person singular. However, for verbs ending in certain letters (-s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o), ‘es’ is added instead. This structural variation helps maintain the pronunciation and flow of the language.

Adding ‘S’

For most verbs, adding ‘s’ is a simple process. For example:

• walk becomes walks (He walks to school.)
• eat becomes eats (She eats breakfast.)
• read becomes reads (It reads well.)

Adding ‘ES’

Verbs ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o require the addition of ‘es’. This rule prevents awkward pronunciation and maintains grammatical consistency. For example:

• kiss becomes kisses (He kisses his wife.)
• wash becomes washes (She washes the dishes.)
• watch becomes watches (It watches the birds.)
• go becomes goes (He goes to the store.)
• fix becomes fixes (She fixes the car.)
• buzz becomes buzzes (The bee buzzes loudly.)

Verbs Ending in ‘Y’

For verbs ending in ‘y’ preceded by a consonant, the ‘y’ is changed to ‘i’ and ‘es’ is added. However, if the ‘y’ is preceded by a vowel, only ‘s’ is added.

This distinction is crucial for correct verb conjugation.

• cry becomes cries (He cries often.)
• fly becomes flies (The bird flies high.)
• study becomes studies (She studies hard.)
• play becomes plays (He plays the guitar.)
• enjoy becomes enjoys (She enjoys the party.)

Types and Categories

Verbs with ‘s’ primarily function within the present simple tense, but their usage can be further categorized based on the type of action or state they describe. These categories include habitual actions, general truths, scheduled events, and stative verbs.

Understanding these categories helps learners apply the correct verb form in various contexts.

Habitual Actions

These verbs describe actions that are performed regularly or habitually. They often appear with adverbs of frequency such as always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never. For example:

• He always drinks coffee in the morning.
• She usually walks to work.
• It sometimes rains in the afternoon.

General Truths

These verbs describe facts or statements that are generally true and not specific to a particular time. For example:

• The sun rises in the east.
• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
• The earth revolves around the sun.

Scheduled Events

Verbs with ‘s’ can also be used to describe scheduled events or fixed arrangements, particularly in timetables or itineraries. For example:

• The train leaves at 9:00 AM.
• The meeting starts at 2:00 PM.
• The concert begins at 8:00 PM.

Stative Verbs

Stative verbs describe states of being, thoughts, feelings, or possessions rather than actions. These verbs are generally not used in the continuous tenses.

For example:

• He believes in God.
• She knows the answer.
• It seems strange.

Examples of Verbs with ‘S’

To solidify your understanding, here are extensive examples of verbs with ‘s’ used in various contexts. These examples are categorized by the type of verb ending (adding ‘s’ or ‘es’) and the type of action or state being described.

Reviewing these examples will provide a practical understanding of how to use verbs with ‘s’ correctly and confidently.

Examples of Adding ‘S’

The following table provides examples of adding ‘s’ to verbs when the subject is third-person singular.

Verb (Base Form)	Verb with ‘S’	Example Sentence
Walk	Walks	He walks to school every day.
Eat	Eats	She eats breakfast at 7 AM.
Read	Reads	He reads the newspaper every morning.
Sleep	Sleeps	She sleeps for eight hours a night.
Drink	Drinks	He drinks water after exercising.
Cook	Cooks	She cooks dinner for her family.
Work	Works	He works at a bank.
Play	Plays	She plays the piano beautifully.
Sing	Sings	He sings in the choir.
Dance	Dances	She dances at the club every Saturday.
Write	Writes	He writes novels in his free time.
Speak	Speaks	She speaks three languages fluently.
Think	Thinks	He thinks deeply about philosophical questions.
Feel	Feels	She feels happy when she is with her friends.
Love	Loves	He loves spending time with his children.
Hate	Hates	She hates doing the dishes.
Want	Wants	He wants a new car.
Need	Needs	She needs to buy groceries.
See	Sees	He sees the mountains from his window.
Hear	Hears	She hears the birds singing in the morning.
Smell	Smells	The food smells delicious.
Taste	Tastes	The soup tastes salty.
Touch	Touches	He touches the screen to navigate.
Smile	Smiles	She smiles when she sees her family.
Laugh	Laughs	He laughs at the funny joke.
Cry	Cries	She cries during sad movies.

Examples of Adding ‘ES’

The following table provides examples of adding ‘es’ to verbs ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o when the subject is third-person singular.

Verb (Base Form)	Verb with ‘ES’	Example Sentence
Kiss	Kisses	He kisses his wife before leaving for work.
Wash	Washes	She washes the dishes after dinner.
Watch	Watches	He watches TV in the evening.
Go	Goes	She goes to the gym every day.
Fix	Fixes	He fixes computers as a job.
Miss	Misses	She misses her family.
Brush	Brushes	He brushes his teeth twice a day.
Teach	Teaches	She teaches English at the university.
Mix	Mixes	He mixes the ingredients for the cake.
Buzz	Buzzes	The bee buzzes around the flowers.
Dress	Dresses	She dresses elegantly for the party.
Rush	Rushes	He rushes to catch the bus.
Reach	Reaches	She reaches for the top shelf.
Box	Boxes	He boxes at the local gym.
Fax	Faxes	She faxes documents to the office.
Guess	Guesses	He guesses the answer to the question.
Wish	Wishes	She wishes for a happy life.
Approach	Approaches	He approaches the podium to give his speech.
Preach	Preaches	The pastor preaches every Sunday.
Tax	Taxes	The government taxes citizens based on income.
Relax	Relaxes	She relaxes by reading a book.
Witness	Witnesses	He witnesses the accident on the street.
Embarrass	Embarrasses	He embarrasses himself with his jokes.
Oppress	Oppresses	The dictator oppresses his people.

Examples of Verbs Ending in ‘Y’

The following table provides examples of verbs ending in ‘y’ and how they change when the subject is third-person singular. Remember, ‘y’ changes to ‘i’ and ‘es’ is added if preceded by a consonant; otherwise, only ‘s’ is added.

Verb (Base Form)	Verb with ‘S’/’ES’	Example Sentence
Cry	Cries	She cries when she watches sad movies.
Fly	Flies	The bird flies south for the winter.
Study	Studies	He studies at the library every night.
Try	Tries	She tries her best in every task.
Carry	Carries	He carries the heavy box upstairs.
Worry	Worries	She worries about her children.
Apply	Applies	He applies for a new job.
Reply	Replies	She replies to the email immediately.
Play	Plays	He plays the guitar in his band.
Enjoy	Enjoys	She enjoys spending time with her family.
Stay	Stays	He stays at home on weekends.
Obey	Obeys	The dog obeys his owner’s commands.
Destroy	Destroys	The fire destroys the forest.
Annoy	Annoys	He annoys his sister with his jokes.
Betray	Betrays	He betrays his friend’s trust.
Pray	Prays	She prays every night before bed.
Slay	Slays	The knight slays the dragon.
Display	Displays	The museum displays ancient artifacts.
Employ	Employs	The company employs hundreds of people.
Delay	Delays	The weather delays the flight.
Decay	Decays	The fruit decays quickly in the heat.
Convey	Conveys	He conveys his feelings through his art.
Allay	Allays	The medicine allays her pain.
Array	Arrays	The shop arrays its products attractively.

Usage Rules

The usage of verbs with ‘s’ is governed by specific rules related to subject-verb agreement and tense. The primary rule is that verbs with ‘s’ are used in the present simple tense with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it). Deviations from this rule can lead to grammatical errors. Understanding these rules and their exceptions is crucial for accurate and effective communication.

Subject-Verb Agreement

The most important rule is subject-verb agreement. The verb must agree with its subject in number.

If the subject is singular, the verb typically takes the ‘s’ form in the present simple tense. If the subject is plural, the verb remains in its base form.

• Correct: He eats an apple.
• Incorrect: He eat an apple.
• Correct: They eat apples.
• Incorrect: They eats apples.

Exceptions

There are a few exceptions to the general rule. The verb “to be” has different forms for the third-person singular (is) and first/second person singular/plural (am, are). Additionally, modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) do not take ‘s’ in the third-person singular.

• Correct: He is a doctor.
• Incorrect: He bes a doctor.
• Correct: He can swim.
• Incorrect: He cans swim.

Negative and Interrogative Forms

In negative and interrogative sentences, the auxiliary verb does is used with the base form of the verb. The ‘s’ is not added to the main verb in these cases.

• Correct: He does not eat meat.
• Incorrect: He does not eats meat.
• Correct: Does he eat meat?
• Incorrect: Does he eats meat?

Common Mistakes

ESL learners often make predictable mistakes when using verbs with ‘s’. These mistakes typically involve incorrect subject-verb agreement, particularly forgetting to add ‘s’ to the verb or adding it to the wrong subject.

Recognizing these common errors and practicing the correct forms can significantly improve accuracy.

The following table shows common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
He eat an apple.	He eats an apple.	The verb must agree with the third-person singular subject ‘he’.
They eats apples.	They eat apples.	The verb should not have ‘s’ with the plural subject ‘they’.
She do not like coffee.	She does not like coffee.	The auxiliary verb ‘does’ is required for third-person singular in negative sentences.
Do he play football?	Does he play football?	The auxiliary verb ‘does’ is required for third-person singular in interrogative sentences.
The cat sleep on the bed.	The cat sleeps on the bed.	‘The cat’ is a singular noun and requires the ‘s’ form of the verb.
My friends goes to the park.	My friends go to the park.	‘My friends’ is a plural noun and does not require the ‘s’ form of the verb.
He can speaks English fluently	He can speak English fluently	Modal verbs do not take an ‘s’ in the third person singular.

Practice Exercises

To reinforce your understanding, complete the following practice exercises. These exercises cover various aspects of using verbs with ‘s’, including subject-verb agreement, negative and interrogative forms, and different types of verbs.

Answers are provided at the end of each exercise to help you check your work and identify areas for improvement.

Exercise 1: Subject-Verb Agreement

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. He ________ (walk) to work every day.
2. She ________ (eat) breakfast at 7 AM.
3. It ________ (rain) often in the spring.
4. They ________ (play) football on weekends.
5. I ________ (study) English every night.
6. The cat ________ (sleep) on the sofa.
7. My friends ________ (go) to the cinema.
8. He ________ (watch) TV in the evening.
9. She ________ (live) in London.
10. We ________ (like) to dance.

Answers:

1. walks
2. eats
3. rains
4. play
5. study
6. sleeps
7. go
8. watches
9. lives
10. like

Exercise 2: Adding ‘ES’

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. He ________ (kiss) his wife goodbye.
2. She ________ (wash) the dishes after dinner.
3. It ________ (buzz) loudly.
4. He ________ (fix) cars.
5. She ________ (teach) English.
6. He ________ (mix) the ingredients.
7. She ________ (wish) for a happy life.
8. He ________ (dress) smartly.
9. She ________ (rush) to the meeting.
10. He ________ (watch) the game.

Answers:

1. kisses
2. washes
3. buzzes
4. fixes
5. teaches
6. mixes
7. wishes
8. dresses
9. rushes
10. watches

Exercise 3: Verbs Ending in ‘Y’

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. He ________ (cry) when he is sad.
2. She ________ (study) hard for exams.
3. It ________ (fly) in the sky.
4. They ________ (play) in the park.
5. I ________ (enjoy) listening to music.
6. He ________ (try) to fix the problem.
7. She ________ (carry) the heavy bag.
8. It ________ (annoy) him when people are late.
9. They ________ (obey) the rules.
10. I ________ (stay) at home on weekends.

Answers:

1. cries
2. studies
3. flies
4. play
5. enjoy
6. tries
7. carries
8. annoys
9. obey
10. stay

Exercise 4: Negative and Interrogative Forms

Rewrite the following sentences in the negative and interrogative forms.

1. He eats meat.
2. She likes coffee.
3. It rains often.
4. They play football.
5. I study English.
6. The cat sleeps on the sofa.
7. My friends go to the cinema.
8. He watches TV.
9. She lives in London.
10. We like to dance.

Answers:

1. Negative: He does not eat meat. Interrogative: Does he eat meat?
2. Negative: She does not like coffee. Interrogative: Does she like coffee?
3. Negative: It does not rain often. Interrogative: Does it rain often?
4. Negative: They do not play football. Interrogative: Do they play football?
5. Negative: I do not study English. Interrogative: Do I study English?
6. Negative: The cat does not sleep on the sofa. Interrogative: Does the cat sleep on the sofa?
7. Negative: My friends do not go to the cinema. Interrogative: Do my friends go to the cinema?
8. Negative: He does not watch TV. Interrogative: Does he watch TV?
9. Negative: She does not live in London. Interrogative: Does she live in London?
10. Negative: We do not like to dance. Interrogative: Do we like to dance?

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, understanding the nuances of verb usage with ‘s’ can further refine their English proficiency. This includes mastering the use of stative verbs, understanding the implications of using the present simple tense for future events, and recognizing subtle differences in meaning conveyed by different verb forms.

Stative Verbs: As mentioned earlier, stative verbs describe states rather than actions. However, some verbs can function as both stative and dynamic depending on the context. For example, “think” can be stative (I think he is right) or dynamic (I am thinking about the problem).

Present Simple for Future Events: The present simple tense can be used to describe scheduled future events, particularly in timetables or itineraries. This usage is common for trains, buses, planes, and other fixed schedules.

Subjunctive Mood: While not directly related to the ‘s’ form, understanding the subjunctive mood is important for advanced learners. The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, suggestions, or hypothetical situations. In the present subjunctive, the verb remains in its base form, even for third-person singular subjects.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about verbs with ‘s’, along with detailed answers to clarify common points of confusion.

1. Why do we add ‘s’ to verbs in the present simple tense?

   Adding ‘s’ to verbs in the present simple tense is a grammatical convention to indicate subject-verb agreement with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it). This helps to clearly identify the subject performing the action and maintain grammatical consistency.

2. When do we add ‘es’ instead of ‘s’?

   We add ‘es’ to verbs that end in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -o. This is done to maintain proper pronunciation and avoid awkward sound combinations. For example, “go” becomes “goes” and “watch” becomes “watches.”

3. What happens to verbs ending in ‘y’?

   If a verb ends in ‘y’ and is preceded by a consonant, the ‘y’ is changed to ‘i’ and ‘es’ is added (e.g., cry becomes cries). If the ‘y’ is preceded by a vowel, only ‘s’ is added (e.g., play becomes plays).

4. Do modal verbs take ‘s’ in the third-person singular?

   No, modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) do not take ‘s’ in the third-person singular. For example, “He can swim,” not “He cans swim.”

5. How do we form negative and interrogative sentences with verbs with ‘s’?

   In negative and interrogative sentences, we use the auxiliary verb “does” with the base form of the verb. For example, “He does not eat meat” and “Does he eat meat?”

6. Are there any irregular verbs?

   Yes, the verb “to be” is an irregular verb with different forms for the present simple tense: am (I), is (he/she/it), are (you/we/they). The third-person singular form is “is.”

7. Can the present simple tense be used for future events?

   Yes, the present simple tense can be used to describe scheduled future events, particularly in timetables or itineraries. For example, “The train leaves at 9:00 AM.”

8. What are stative verbs and how do they relate to verbs with ‘s’?

   Stative verbs describe states of being, thoughts, feelings, or possessions rather than actions. They are generally not used in the continuous tenses. When used in the present simple tense with a third-person singular subject, they still take the ‘s’ form (e.g., “He believes in God”).

Conclusion

Mastering the use of verbs with ‘s’ is a fundamental skill for ESL learners. This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of the topic, covering definitions, structural rules, usage guidelines, common mistakes, and practice exercises.

By understanding when and how to add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to verbs, you can significantly improve your accuracy and fluency in English. Remember to focus on subject-verb agreement, pay attention to the exceptions, and practice regularly to reinforce your learning.

The key to success lies in consistent practice and attention to detail. Review the examples provided, complete the exercises, and don’t be afraid to ask questions when you’re unsure.

With dedication and effort, you can confidently navigate the complexities of verbs with ‘s’ and achieve your language learning goals. Keep practicing, and you’ll be speaking and writing more accurately in no time!