Grammar for Kids: Mastering Verbs With and Without ‘S’

Understanding how verbs change with different subjects is a crucial step in learning English grammar. Knowing when to add an ‘s’ to a verb can be tricky, but it’s essential for forming correct sentences.

This article will guide you through the rules of using verbs with and without ‘s’, providing clear explanations, examples, and practice exercises. Whether you’re just starting to learn English or want to improve your grammar skills, this guide will help you master this important concept.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition of Verbs with and without ‘S’
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories
• Examples
  • Present Simple Verbs
  • Singular vs. Plural Subject Examples
  • Exceptions and Irregularities
• Usage Rules
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Exercises
  • Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Verb Form
  • Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
  • Exercise 3: Correct the Sentences
• Advanced Topics
• FAQ
• Conclusion

Definition of Verbs with and without ‘S’

In English grammar, verbs are words that describe actions or states of being. The form of a verb often changes depending on the subject performing the action. One common change is the addition of an ‘s’ to the verb in the present simple tense. This usually happens when the subject is a singular noun or pronoun in the third person (he, she, it). When the subject is plural (we, you, they) or the pronoun ‘I’, the verb typically does not take an ‘s’.

Verbs without ‘s’ are used with plural subjects such as ‘we,’ ‘you,’ and ‘they,’ as well as with the pronoun ‘I.’ The basic form of the verb is used in these cases. For example, “I eat,” “We play,” “You sing,” and “They dance.” These forms indicate actions that are generally true, habitual, or occur regularly.

The addition of ‘s’ to a verb signals that the subject is singular and in the third person (he, she, it). For example, “He eats,” “She plays,” and “It sings.” This grammatical rule helps to maintain agreement between the subject and the verb, ensuring clarity and correctness in sentence construction.

Understanding this distinction is fundamental for accurate communication in English.

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure for sentences with verbs in the present simple tense involves the subject and the verb. The key is to match the verb form to the subject.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Singular Subject (He, She, It): Subject + Verb + -s/es
• Plural Subject (We, You, They) or I: Subject + Verb (base form)

For example:

• He plays the guitar.
• They play the guitar.
• She reads books.
• We read books.

The addition of ‘es’ instead of just ‘s’ occurs with verbs that end in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -o. For example, ‘he watches,’ ‘she kisses,’ ‘it goes.’ This ensures that the pronunciation remains smooth and natural.

Understanding the structural breakdown also involves recognizing that auxiliary verbs like ‘do’ and ‘does’ are used to form questions and negative statements. ‘Does’ is used with singular third-person subjects (he, she, it), while ‘do’ is used with plural subjects and ‘I’ and ‘you’.

For instance: “Does he play the guitar?” or “They do not play the guitar.”

Types and Categories

Verbs can be categorized based on whether they take an ‘s’ or not, depending on the subject. Here’s a breakdown:

• Verbs with ‘S’: Used with singular, third-person subjects (he, she, it) in the present simple tense.
• Verbs without ‘S’: Used with plural subjects (we, you, they) and the pronoun ‘I’ in the present simple tense.

Here’s a more detailed look at each category:

Verbs with ‘S’

These verbs always accompany singular, third-person subjects in the present simple tense. They indicate actions or states of being performed by a single person or thing.

Examples include:

• He walks to school.
• She reads a book.
• It eats its food.

Verbs without ‘S’

These verbs are used with plural subjects and the pronoun ‘I’. They represent actions performed by multiple people or things or by the speaker themselves.

Examples include:

• I walk to school.
• We read books.
• They eat their food.

Examples

Let’s look at various examples to illustrate how verbs change with different subjects.

Present Simple Verbs

The following table shows examples of present simple verbs used with different subjects. Notice how the verb changes based on whether the subject is singular or plural.

Subject	Verb (without ‘s’)	Verb (with ‘s’)	Example Sentence (without ‘s’)	Example Sentence (with ‘s’)
I	eat	–	I eat breakfast every morning.	–
You	play	–	You play the piano beautifully.	–
We	watch	–	We watch movies on weekends.	–
They	go	–	They go to the park every Sunday.	–
He	–	eats	–	He eats lunch at noon.
She	–	plays	–	She plays tennis after school.
It	–	watches	–	It watches the birds in the garden.
I	read	–	I read before bed.	–
You	write	–	You write very well.	–
We	sing	–	We sing in the choir.	–
They	dance	–	They dance at the party.	–
He	–	reads	–	He reads the newspaper daily.
She	–	writes	–	She writes stories.
It	–	sings	–	It sings beautifully.
I	run	–	I run every morning.	–
You	walk	–	You walk to school.	–
We	talk	–	We talk about our day.	–
They	listen	–	They listen to music.	–
He	–	runs	–	He runs fast.
She	–	walks	–	She walks slowly.
It	–	talks	–	It talks a lot. (referring to a parrot)
I	cook	–	I cook dinner.	–
You	clean	–	You clean the house.	–
We	help	–	We help each other.	–
They	visit	–	They visit their grandparents.	–
He	–	cooks	–	He cooks well.
She	–	cleans	–	She cleans the kitchen.
It	–	helps	–	It helps to keep us warm. (referring to a heater)

This table provides a clear comparison, showing how verbs change based on the subject of the sentence. It reinforces the rule that singular third-person subjects (he, she, it) take verbs ending in ‘-s’.

Singular vs. Plural Subject Examples

This table shows examples with singular and plural subjects to further illustrate the concept.

Subject	Verb	Example Sentence
The dog	barks	The dog barks loudly.
The dogs	bark	The dogs bark at strangers.
The cat	sleeps	The cat sleeps all day.
The cats	sleep	The cats sleep on the bed.
My brother	plays	My brother plays basketball.
My brothers	play	My brothers play video games.
The bird	flies	The bird flies high in the sky.
The birds	fly	The birds fly south for the winter.
A student	studies	A student studies hard for exams.
Students	study	Students study together in the library.
The flower	blooms	The flower blooms in the spring.
The flowers	bloom	The flowers bloom in the garden.
My mom	cooks	My mom cooks delicious meals.
My parents	cook	My parents cook together on Sundays.
The car	runs	The car runs smoothly.
The cars	run	The cars run on the highway.
A tree	grows	A tree grows tall in the forest.
Trees	grow	Trees grow quickly in the summer.
The house	stands	The house stands on the hill.
The houses	stand	The houses stand in a row.
My friend	visits	My friend visits me often.
My friends	visit	My friends visit me on weekends.
The sun	shines	The sun shines brightly.
The stars	shine	The stars shine at night.
The book	contains	The book contains many stories.
The books	contain	The books contain interesting information.

This table highlights the difference between singular and plural subjects and how they affect the verb form. The examples show real-world scenarios, making it easier to understand the rule in context.

Exceptions and Irregularities

While the general rule is straightforward, there are some exceptions and irregularities. One common exception is the verb “to be.” Its forms are irregular: am, is, are.

Subject	Verb “to be”	Example Sentence
I	am	I am a student.
You	are	You are my friend.
He	is	He is tall.
She	is	She is happy.
It	is	It is a dog.
We	are	We are a team.
They	are	They are playing.

Another important point is that auxiliary verbs like “have” also change form. “Has” is used with singular third-person subjects (he, she, it), while “have” is used with plural subjects and the pronouns ‘I’ and ‘you’.

For example, “He has a car” versus “They have a car.”

Additionally, modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) do not change form regardless of the subject. For instance, “I can swim,” “He can swim,” “They can swim.”

Usage Rules

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the rules for using verbs with and without ‘s’:

1. Present Simple Tense: Use the present simple tense to describe habitual actions, general truths, or facts.
2. Singular Third-Person Subjects: For singular third-person subjects (he, she, it), add ‘-s’ or ‘-es’ to the base form of the verb.
3. Plural Subjects and ‘I’: For plural subjects (we, you, they) and the pronoun ‘I’, use the base form of the verb without adding ‘-s’ or ‘-es’.
4. Verbs Ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o: Add ‘-es’ to verbs that end in these letters when used with singular third-person subjects (e.g., he watches, she kisses, it goes).
5. Irregular Verbs: Be aware of irregular verbs like “to be” (am, is, are) and “to have” (has, have).
6. Modal Verbs: Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) do not change form based on the subject.
7. Questions and Negations: Use “do” and “does” to form questions and negative statements. “Does” is used with singular third-person subjects, while “do” is used with plural subjects and ‘I’ and ‘you’.

It’s important to remember that these rules apply specifically to the present simple tense. Other tenses have different rules for verb conjugation.

Common Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes that learners often make when using verbs with and without ‘s’, along with corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
He eat apples.	He eats apples.	The verb should end in ‘-s’ because the subject is “he.”
They eats pizza.	They eat pizza.	The verb should not end in ‘-s’ because the subject is “they.”
She go to school.	She goes to school.	The verb should end in ‘-es’ because the subject is “she” and the verb is “go.”
I plays the guitar.	I play the guitar.	The verb should not end in ‘-s’ because the subject is “I.”
We watches TV.	We watch TV.	The verb should not end in ‘-s’ because the subject is “we.”
It have a bone.	It has a bone.	The verb “have” changes to “has” for the subject “it.”
He do not like it.	He does not like it.	Use “does” with “he” to form a negative statement.
She do her homework.	She does her homework.	Use “does” with “she” in affirmative sentences.
The birds sings.	The birds sing.	The verb should not end in ‘-s’ because the subject “birds” is plural.
My mom work hard.	My mom works hard.	The verb should end in ‘-s’ because the subject “mom” is singular.

By being aware of these common mistakes, learners can more easily avoid them and improve their accuracy in using verbs with and without ‘s’.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with these practice exercises.

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Verb Form

Choose the correct form of the verb in the following sentences.

Question	Options	Answer
He _______ to school every day.	(a) walk (b) walks	(b) walks
They _______ pizza on Fridays.	(a) eat (b) eats	(a) eat
She _______ her homework after school.	(a) do (b) does	(b) does
I _______ to music in my free time.	(a) listen (b) listens	(a) listen
We _______ movies on weekends.	(a) watch (b) watches	(a) watch
The dog _______ loudly at night.	(a) bark (b) barks	(b) barks
The cats _______ on the sofa.	(a) sleep (b) sleeps	(a) sleep
He _______ a book before bedtime.	(a) read (b) reads	(b) reads
They _______ to the park on Sundays.	(a) go (b) goes	(a) go
She _______ the piano beautifully.	(a) play (b) plays	(b) plays

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb (with or without ‘s’).

Question	Answer
I _______ (like) ice cream.	like
He _______ (live) in New York.	lives
They _______ (study) English.	study
She _______ (teach) math.	teaches
We _______ (play) soccer.	play
The bird _______ (fly) in the sky.	flies
The students _______ (learn) a lot.	learn
My mom _______ (cook) dinner.	cooks
My friends _______ (visit) me.	visit
The sun _______ (shine) brightly.	shines

Exercise 3: Correct the Sentences

Correct the following sentences where the verb form is incorrect.

Incorrect Sentence	Correct Sentence
He eat apples.	He eats apples.
They eats pizza.	They eat pizza.
She go to school.	She goes to school.
I plays the guitar.	I play the guitar.
We watches TV.	We watch TV.
It have a bone.	It has a bone.
He do not like it.	He does not like it.
She do her homework.	She does her homework.
The birds sings.	The birds sing.
My mom work hard.	My mom works hard.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, it’s important to understand the nuances of subject-verb agreement in more complex sentence structures. For example, collective nouns (e.g., team, family, group) can be singular or plural depending on whether they are acting as a single unit or as individual members.

If the team acts as one unit, the verb is singular: “The team plays well.” If the focus is on the individual members, the verb is plural: “The team are wearing their new uniforms.”

Another advanced topic is the use of indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, someone, nobody). Although these pronouns may seem plural, they are generally treated as singular, and therefore take a verb with ‘s’: “Everyone likes pizza.”

Also, the use of phrases like “one of” followed by a plural noun requires a singular verb: “One of the students is missing.” This is because the subject is “one,” not “students.”

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about verbs with and without ‘s’.

1. Why do we add ‘s’ to some verbs?

   We add ‘s’ to verbs in the present simple tense when the subject is a singular noun or pronoun in the third person (he, she, it). This is to maintain subject-verb agreement, which helps make the sentence grammatically correct and clear.

2. What happens if the subject is plural?

   If the subject is plural (we, you, they), the verb does not take an ‘s’. The base form of the verb is used. For example, “They play football,” not “They plays football.”

3. Does this rule apply to all tenses?

   No, this rule primarily applies to the present simple tense. Other tenses have different rules for verb conjugation. For example, in the past simple tense, the verb form doesn’t change based on the subject (e.g., “I played,” “He played,” “They played”).

4. What about the verb “to be”?

   The verb “to be” is irregular. It has three forms in the present tense: “am” (used with ‘I’), “is” (used with singular third-person subjects), and “are” (used with plural subjects and ‘you’).

5. What if the subject is “I” or “you”?

   The pronouns “I” and “you” do not take a verb with ‘s’ in the present simple tense. Use the base form of the verb. For example, “I eat” and “You play.”

6. How do I form questions with these verbs?

   Use the auxiliary verbs “do” and “does” to form questions. “Does” is used with singular third-person subjects (he, she, it), while “do” is used with plural subjects and ‘I’ and ‘you’. For example, “Does he play?” and “Do they play?”

7. How do I form negative statements?

   Use “do not” (don’t) and “does not” (doesn’t) to form negative statements. For example, “He does not play” and “They do not play.”

8. Are there any exceptions to this rule?

   Yes, there are exceptions, such as modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would), which do not change form based on the subject. Also, certain collective nouns can be treated as singular or plural depending on the context.

9. What about compound subjects?

   With compound subjects joined by “and,” use the plural form of the verb, e.g., “John and Mary play tennis.” However, if the compound subject refers to one person or thing, use the singular form, e.g., “My friend and colleague is here.”

10. How to handle sentences starting with “there”?

    In sentences starting with “there”, the verb agrees with the noun that follows it. For example, “There is a book on the table” (book is singular) and “There are books on the table” (books is plural).

11. What about indefinite pronouns?

    Indefinite pronouns like ‘everyone,’ ‘someone,’ ‘nobody,’ and ‘each’ are generally treated as singular, even though they refer to a group. Thus, they take a singular verb form. For example, “Everyone likes ice cream.”

Conclusion

Mastering the use of verbs with and without ‘s’ is a fundamental step in improving your English grammar. Remember that the key is to match the verb form to the subject, adding ‘s’ or ‘es’ for singular third-person subjects in the present simple tense.

Practice regularly, pay attention to common mistakes, and don’t hesitate to review the rules and examples provided in this guide.

By understanding and applying these rules, you’ll be able to construct grammatically correct sentences and communicate more effectively. Keep practicing, and you’ll soon find that using verbs correctly becomes second nature.

Remember to review the tables and examples provided, and continue practicing with exercises to reinforce your learning. With consistent effort, you can master this important aspect of English grammar!