Why Do Some Verbs End in ‘S’? Grammar Simplified 2025

Understanding why some verbs end in ‘s’ is a fundamental aspect of English grammar, particularly for mastering subject-verb agreement. This grammatical concept ensures that verbs correctly match their subjects in terms of number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third).

A solid grasp of this rule enhances clarity and precision in both written and spoken communication, preventing common grammatical errors and improving overall language proficiency. For English language learners, students, and anyone seeking to refine their grammar skills, mastering this concept is essential.

This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying the rules governing verb endings in English.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement
3. Structural Breakdown
4. Types and Categories
5. Examples of Verb Endings
6. Usage Rules
7. Common Mistakes
8. Practice Exercises
9. Advanced Topics
10. FAQ
11. Conclusion

Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical rule that dictates that the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. This means that a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb.

The ‘s’ ending on a verb typically indicates the third-person singular present tense. This agreement is crucial for constructing grammatically correct and clear sentences.

In simpler terms, if you’re talking about “he,” “she,” or “it,” or any singular noun that can be replaced by these pronouns, the verb usually gets an ‘s’ in the present tense. For example, “He walks,” “She eats,” and “It rains.” However, when the subject is plural (like “they,” “we,” or “you”) or the pronoun “I,” the verb does not take the ‘s’ ending. For instance, “They walk,” “We eat,” and “I rain” (although, of course, people don’t rain!).

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure of a sentence involving subject-verb agreement can be broken down into two main parts: the subject and the verb. Identifying these components is key to applying the rules correctly.

The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action, and the verb is the action itself. The verb must match the subject in number.

Let’s examine the components more closely. For singular subjects (he, she, it), the present tense verb typically ends in ‘s’ or ‘es’.

For plural subjects (they, we, you) and the pronoun “I,” the verb remains in its base form, without the ‘s’ ending. This distinction is fundamental to English grammar.

Here’s a summary of the basic structural rules:

• Singular Subject: He/She/It + Verb + -s/-es
• Plural Subject: They/We/You + Verb
• First Person Singular: I + Verb

For example:

• He reads books every day.
• They read books every day.
• I read books every day.

Types and Categories

Subject-verb agreement can be categorized based on the type of subject involved. Understanding these categories helps in applying the rules more effectively.

The main categories include singular subjects, plural subjects, compound subjects, and indefinite pronouns.

Singular Subjects

Singular subjects refer to one person, place, thing, or idea. These subjects require a singular verb, which typically ends in ‘s’ or ‘es’ in the present tense.

Examples of singular subjects include ‘he,’ ‘she,’ ‘it,’ ‘the dog,’ ‘the book,’ and ‘Mary’.

For example:

• She sings beautifully.
• The dog barks loudly.
• It rains often in April.

Plural Subjects

Plural subjects refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. These subjects require a plural verb, which does not end in ‘s’ or ‘es’ in the present tense.

Examples of plural subjects include ‘they,’ ‘we,’ ‘you,’ ‘the dogs,’ ‘the books,’ and ‘Mary and John’.

For example:

• They sing together.
• The dogs bark at strangers.
• We read every night.

Compound Subjects

Compound subjects are two or more subjects joined by a conjunction such as ‘and,’ ‘or,’ or ‘nor.’ When subjects are joined by ‘and,’ they usually take a plural verb. However, if the compound subject refers to a single entity or idea, it takes a singular verb.

For example:

• Mary and John are good friends. (plural)
• Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich. (singular – refers to a single sandwich type)

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific persons or things. Some indefinite pronouns are always singular (e.g., ‘everyone,’ ‘someone,’ ‘nobody’), while others are always plural (e.g., ‘both,’ ‘few,’ ‘many’), and some can be either singular or plural depending on the context (e.g., ‘some,’ ‘any,’ ‘none’).

For example:

• Everyone is invited to the party. (singular)
• Both are welcome to join us. (plural)
• Some of the cake is gone. (singular)
• Some of the cookies are gone. (plural)

Examples of Verb Endings

To further illustrate the rules of subject-verb agreement, let’s examine a variety of examples categorized by subject type. These examples will highlight how the verb changes based on whether the subject is singular or plural, and how to handle more complex sentence structures.

Examples with Singular Subjects

The following table provides examples of sentences with singular subjects and their corresponding verbs. Note how the verb ends in ‘s’ or ‘es’ in the present tense to agree with the singular subject.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
He	Walks	He walks to school every day.
She	Reads	She reads novels in her free time.
It	Rains	It rains frequently in the spring.
The dog	Barks	The dog barks at the mailman.
The cat	Sleeps	The cat sleeps on the windowsill.
John	Plays	John plays the guitar.
Mary	Writes	Mary writes poetry.
My mother	Cooks	My mother cooks delicious meals.
The teacher	Explains	The teacher explains the lesson clearly.
The student	Studies	The student studies hard for exams.
The car	Runs	The car runs smoothly.
The house	Looks	The house looks beautiful.
The tree	Grows	The tree grows tall.
The sun	Shines	The sun shines brightly.
The moon	Glows	The moon glows in the night sky.
Every student	Attends	Every student attends the meeting.
Each person	Has	Each person has a unique perspective.
Someone	Knows	Someone knows the answer.
Nobody	Cares	Nobody cares about the rules.
Anyone	Is	Anyone is welcome to join.
Everything	Changes	Everything changes over time.
Something	Happens	Something happens every day.

Examples with Plural Subjects

The following table demonstrates sentences with plural subjects and their corresponding verbs. Notice that the verbs do not end in ‘s’ or ‘es’ in the present tense when used with plural subjects.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
They	Walk	They walk to school together.
We	Read	We read books every night.
You	Sing	You sing very well.
The dogs	Bark	The dogs bark at strangers.
The cats	Sleep	The cats sleep all day.
John and Mary	Play	John and Mary play tennis.
My parents	Cook	My parents cook delicious meals.
The teachers	Explain	The teachers explain the lessons clearly.
The students	Study	The students study in the library.
The cars	Run	The cars run on gasoline.
The houses	Look	The houses look old.
The trees	Grow	The trees grow tall.
The stars	Shine	The stars shine at night.
The planets	Revolve	The planets revolve around the sun.
Many students	Attend	Many students attend the conference.
Several people	Have	Several people have expressed interest.
Both	Know	Both know the answer.
Few	Care	Few care about the rules.
Others	Are	Others are welcome to join.
All things	Change	All things change over time.
Some things	Happen	Some things happen unexpectedly.

Examples with Compound Subjects

The following table illustrates how compound subjects affect verb agreement. When subjects are joined by ‘and,’ they typically take a plural verb.

However, when they refer to a single entity or idea, they take a singular verb.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
John and Mary	Are	John and Mary are going to the party.
The dog and the cat	Play	The dog and the cat play together.
Peanut butter and jelly	Is	Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite snack.
Macaroni and cheese	Is	Macaroni and cheese is a classic dish.
My brother and I	Are	My brother and I are planning a trip.
The singer and songwriter	Is	The singer and songwriter is very talented.
The bed and breakfast	Offers	The bed and breakfast offers comfortable rooms.
Love and compassion	Are	Love and compassion are essential qualities.
Time and tide	Wait	Time and tide wait for no man.
The actor and director	Is	The actor and director is presenting the award.
The hammer and nail	Are	The hammer and nail are necessary for the project.
The knife and fork	Are	The knife and fork are on the table.
The pen and paper	Are	The pen and paper are necessary for writing.
The sun and moon	Are	The sun and moon are celestial bodies.
The stars and planets	Shine	The stars and planets shine brightly.
Mary and her friends	Are	Mary and her friends are going to the concert.
The book and its cover	Are	The book and its cover are both damaged.
The dress and the shoes	Match	The dress and the shoes match perfectly.
The shirt and the pants	Fit	The shirt and the pants fit well.
The car and the keys	Are	The car and the keys are missing.

Examples with Indefinite Pronouns

The following table provides examples of sentences with indefinite pronouns. Remember that some indefinite pronouns are always singular, some are always plural, and some can be either depending on the context.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
Everyone	Is	Everyone is invited to the party.
Someone	Knows	Someone knows the answer.
Nobody	Cares	Nobody cares about the rules.
Each	Has	Each has a unique perspective.
Everything	Changes	Everything changes over time.
Something	Happens	Something happens every day.
Both	Are	Both are welcome to join us.
Few	Know	Few know the truth.
Many	Agree	Many agree with the decision.
Several	Believe	Several believe in the possibility.
Some (of the cake)	Is	Some of the cake is gone.
Some (of the cookies)	Are	Some of the cookies are missing.
Any (of the pie)	Is	Any of the pie is fine with me.
Any (of the apples)	Are	Any of the apples are acceptable.
None (of the water)	Is	None of the water is left.
None (of the students)	Are	None of the students are present.
All (of the money)	Is	All of the money is accounted for.
All (of the books)	Are	All of the books are on the shelf.
Most (of the work)	Is	Most of the work is complete.
Most (of the employees)	Are	Most of the employees are happy.

Usage Rules

Several rules govern the proper usage of verbs ending in ‘s’. These rules ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct.

Understanding these rules will help you avoid common errors and improve your writing skills.

Basic Rule: Use the ‘s’ ending with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it) in the present simple tense. Do not use the ‘s’ ending with plural subjects (they, we, you) or the first-person singular pronoun ‘I’.

Exceptions: There are some exceptions to this rule. For example, modal verbs (can, could, will, would, should, may, might, must) do not take an ‘s’ ending, regardless of the subject. Also, in subjunctive mood, the verb does not take an ‘s’ ending.

Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, committee) can be either singular or plural, depending on whether they are acting as a single unit or as individual members. If the collective noun is acting as a single unit, use a singular verb. If the members are acting individually, use a plural verb.

Titles of Works: Titles of books, movies, and songs are generally treated as singular, even if they contain plural words.

Quantities and Measurements: Quantities and measurements can be either singular or plural, depending on how they are used in the sentence. If the quantity or measurement is considered a single unit, use a singular verb. If it is considered a collection of individual items, use a plural verb.

Common Mistakes

One of the most common mistakes in English grammar is incorrect subject-verb agreement. This often occurs when writers and speakers forget to match the verb to the subject in number.

Recognizing and correcting these mistakes is crucial for clear communication.

Incorrect: He eat apples every day.

Correct: He eats apples every day.

Incorrect: They eats apples every day.

Correct: They eat apples every day.

Incorrect: Everyone are going to the party.

Correct: Everyone is going to the party.

Incorrect: The team are playing well.

Correct: The team is playing well (when referring to the team as a unit).

Correct: The team are arguing about the strategy (when referring to individual members).

Incorrect: Macaroni and cheese are my favorite dish.

Correct: Macaroni and cheese is my favorite dish.

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding of subject-verb agreement, complete the following exercises. Choose the correct form of the verb in each sentence.

Exercise 1: Basic Subject-Verb Agreement

Question	Answer
1. She (play/plays) the piano beautifully.	plays
2. They (walk/walks) to school every day.	walk
3. It (rain/rains) often in the spring.	rains
4. We (read/reads) books before bed.	read
5. He (write/writes) poetry in his free time.	writes
6. The dog (bark/barks) at strangers.	barks
7. The cats (sleep/sleeps) all day.	sleep
8. I (eat/eats) breakfast every morning.	eat
9. You (sing/sings) very well.	sing
10. My mother (cook/cooks) delicious meals.	cooks

Exercise 2: Compound Subjects

Question	Answer
1. John and Mary (is/are) going to the party.	are
2. Peanut butter and jelly (is/are) my favorite snack.	is
3. My brother and I (is/are) planning a trip.	are
4. The singer and songwriter (is/are) very talented.	is
5. The dog and the cat (play/plays) together.	play
6. Time and tide (wait/waits) for no man.	wait
7. The hammer and nail (is/are) necessary for the project.	are
8. The pen and paper (is/are) on the desk.	are
9. The car and the keys (is/are) missing.	are
10. Love and compassion (is/are) essential qualities.	are

Exercise 3: Indefinite Pronouns

Question	Answer
1. Everyone (is/are) invited to the event.	is
2. Someone (know/knows) the answer.	knows
3. Nobody (care/cares) about the old rules.	cares
4. Both (is/are) welcome to join us.	are
5. Few (know/knows) the truth.	know
6. Many (agree/agrees) with the proposal.	agree
7. Some of the cake (is/are) gone.	is
8. Some of the cookies (is/are) missing.	are
9. None of the water (is/are) left.	is
10. All of the books (is/are) on the shelf.	are

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, subject-verb agreement can become more complex when dealing with clauses, phrases, and other grammatical structures. Understanding these nuances can significantly improve your writing and speaking skills.

Relative Clauses: When a relative clause (introduced by ‘who,’ ‘which,’ or ‘that’) modifies the subject, the verb in the relative clause must agree with the noun it refers to.

Intervening Phrases: Phrases that come between the subject and the verb can sometimes cause confusion. It’s important to identify the true subject and ensure that the verb agrees with it, not with the noun in the intervening phrase.

Inverted Sentences: In sentences that begin with a prepositional phrase or an adverb, the subject and verb may be inverted. In these cases, it’s crucial to identify the subject correctly to ensure proper agreement.

Titles of Works: Even if the title of a book or movie is plural, it generally takes a singular verb because the title is considered a single entity.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about subject-verb agreement, along with detailed answers to help clarify any confusion.

1. Why is subject-verb agreement important?

   Subject-verb agreement is crucial because it ensures clarity and grammatical correctness in your writing and speech. Incorrect agreement can lead to confusion and misinterpretation of your intended message. Mastering this rule enhances the overall quality and professionalism of your communication.

2. What are the basic rules of subject-verb agreement?

   The basic rule is that a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. In the present tense, singular verbs usually end in ‘s’ or ‘es’ (e.g., he eats), while plural verbs do not (e.g., they eat). Special attention should be paid to third-person singular subjects (he, she, it) as they are most commonly associated with this rule.

3. How do I handle compound subjects joined by ‘and’?

   Generally, compound subjects joined by ‘and’ take a plural verb because they refer to more than one person or thing (e.g., John and Mary are going to the party). However, if the compound subject refers to a single entity or idea, it takes a singular verb (e.g., Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite snack).

4. What about indefinite pronouns like ‘everyone’ and ‘nobody’?

   Indefinite pronouns can be tricky. Pronouns like ‘everyone,’ ‘someone,’ ‘anyone,’ ‘each,’ ‘everybody,’ ‘nobody,’ and ‘somebody’ are always singular and take singular verbs (e.g., Everyone is invited). On the other hand, pronouns like ‘both,’ ‘few,’ ‘many,’ and ‘several’ are always plural and take plural verbs (e.g., Both are welcome).

5. How do I deal with collective nouns like ‘team’ or ‘family’?

   Collective nouns can be either singular or plural, depending on whether they are acting as a single unit or as individual members. If the collective noun is acting as a single unit, use a singular verb (e.g., The team is playing well). If the members are acting individually, use a plural verb (e.g., The team are arguing about the strategy).

6. What if there’s a phrase between the subject and the verb?

   Phrases that come between the subject and the verb can sometimes cause confusion. The verb should always agree with the subject, not with any noun in the intervening phrase (e.g., The book, along with its cover, is damaged. The verb ‘is’ agrees with ‘book,’ not ‘cover’).

7. How do I handle sentences that start with ‘there is’ or ‘there are’?

   In sentences that begin with ‘there is’ or ‘there are,’ the subject comes after the verb. The verb must agree with the subject that follows it (e.g., There is a book on the table. There are books on the table).

8. What if the subject is a title of a book or movie?

   Even if the title of a book or movie contains plural words, it is generally treated as singular because the title is considered a single entity (e.g., “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is a classic novel).

Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement, particularly understanding why some verbs end in ‘s,’ is a cornerstone of English grammar. This article has provided a comprehensive overview of the rules, exceptions, and common mistakes associated with this grammatical concept.

By understanding the different types of subjects, applying the correct verb forms, and practicing regularly, you can significantly improve your writing and speaking skills.

Remember to pay close attention to singular and plural subjects, compound subjects, indefinite pronouns, and collective nouns. Practice identifying the true subject of the sentence and ensuring that the verb agrees with it in number.

By consistently applying these principles, you will enhance your clarity, precision, and confidence in using the English language. Keep practicing, and you’ll find that subject-verb agreement becomes second nature!