Understanding verbs that end in ‘s’ is crucial for forming grammatically correct sentences in English. These verbs, primarily used in the present simple tense with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it), often confuse English language learners.
This article provides a detailed exploration of these verbs, covering their formation, usage, common mistakes, and offering extensive practice exercises. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to confidently use verbs ending in ‘s’.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of Verbs Ending in ‘S’
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories
- Examples
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of Verbs Ending in ‘S’
Verbs ending in ‘s’ are primarily used in the present simple tense to denote actions performed by a third-person singular subject (he, she, it, or a singular noun). This grammatical form indicates habitual actions, general truths, or fixed arrangements. The addition of ‘s’ to the base form of the verb is a key aspect of subject-verb agreement in English grammar.
For example, in the sentence “He eats pizza every Friday,” the verb “eats” ends in ‘s’ because the subject “He” is a third-person singular pronoun. Similarly, “The dog barks at strangers” illustrates the same principle, where “barks” ends in ‘s’ because the subject “The dog” is a singular noun. Understanding this concept is essential for constructing grammatically accurate and clear sentences.
Structural Breakdown
The structure of a verb ending in ‘s’ is relatively simple. It usually involves adding an ‘s’ to the base form of the verb.
However, there are some exceptions depending on the ending of the base verb.
- Most verbs: Add ‘s’ to the base form (e.g., walk becomes walks, eat becomes eats).
- Verbs ending in -y (preceded by a consonant): Change ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es’ (e.g., study becomes studies, cry becomes cries).
- Verbs ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z: Add ‘es’ (e.g., kiss becomes kisses, watch becomes watches).
- Verbs ending in -o: Add ‘es’ (e.g., go becomes goes, do becomes does).
Understanding these rules allows you to correctly form verbs ending in ‘s’ in various contexts. For instance, knowing that “teach” becomes “teaches” and “fly” becomes “flies” ensures accurate sentence construction when using the present simple tense with third-person singular subjects.
Types and Categories
Regular Verbs
Regular verbs form their past tense and past participle by adding ‘-ed’ or ‘-d’ to the base form. In the present simple tense, they follow the standard rule of adding ‘s’ to the base form for third-person singular subjects.
For example, the verb “work” becomes “works” in the third-person singular.
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs do not follow the standard ‘-ed’ rule for forming their past tense and past participle. Some irregular verbs also have unique forms in the present simple tense.
The most common example is the verb “to be,” where the third-person singular form is “is.” Another example is “to have,” which becomes “has.” These verbs must be memorized as they do not conform to the regular patterns.
Examples
Affirmative Sentences
Affirmative sentences state a fact or assertion. When using verbs that end in ‘s’, these sentences typically involve a third-person singular subject performing an action.
The following table provides a variety of examples illustrating the use of verbs ending in ‘s’ in affirmative sentences. These examples cover different regular and irregular verbs, showcasing how they are used in context.
| Subject | Verb | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| He | eats | He eats breakfast every morning. |
| She | reads | She reads novels in her free time. |
| It | rains | It rains frequently in this region. |
| John | works | John works at a local hospital. |
| Mary | studies | Mary studies hard for her exams. |
| The dog | barks | The dog barks at strangers. |
| The cat | sleeps | The cat sleeps on the sofa all day. |
| My brother | plays | My brother plays the guitar in a band. |
| My sister | dances | My sister dances ballet professionally. |
| The sun | shines | The sun shines brightly in summer. |
| He | writes | He writes poetry in his spare time. |
| She | sings | She sings in the church choir. |
| It | snows | It snows heavily during winter. |
| John | teaches | John teaches English at the university. |
| Mary | watches | Mary watches movies every weekend. |
| The bird | flies | The bird flies high above the trees. |
| The river | flows | The river flows through the valley. |
| My father | cooks | My father cooks delicious meals. |
| My mother | sews | My mother sews beautiful dresses. |
| The wind | blows | The wind blows strongly during storms. |
| He | runs | He runs five miles every morning. |
| She | jumps | She jumps over the hurdles with ease. |
| It | costs | It costs a lot to live in the city. |
| John | fixes | John fixes cars at the garage. |
| Mary | mixes | Mary mixes the ingredients carefully. |
Negative Sentences
Negative sentences express the absence of an action or state. In the present simple tense, negative sentences with third-person singular subjects require the auxiliary verb “does” followed by “not” and the base form of the verb.
The table below demonstrates how to form negative sentences using verbs that would normally end in ‘s’ in affirmative sentences. Notice the use of “does not” (or “doesn’t”) and the base form of the verb.
| Subject | Auxiliary Verb | Verb | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| He | does not | eat | He does not eat meat. |
| She | does not | read | She does not read newspapers. |
| It | does not | rain | It does not rain often in this desert. |
| John | does not | work | John does not work on weekends. |
| Mary | does not | study | Mary does not study on Fridays. |
| The dog | does not | bark | The dog does not bark at children. |
| The cat | does not | sleep | The cat does not sleep outside. |
| My brother | does not | play | My brother does not play video games. |
| My sister | does not | dance | My sister does not dance at parties. |
| The sun | does not | shine | The sun does not shine at night. |
| He | doesn’t | write | He doesn’t write emails. |
| She | doesn’t | sing | She doesn’t sing karaoke. |
| It | doesn’t | snow | It doesn’t snow in summer. |
| John | doesn’t | teach | John doesn’t teach math. |
| Mary | doesn’t | watch | Mary doesn’t watch TV. |
| The bird | doesn’t | fly | The bird doesn’t fly in the cage. |
| The river | doesn’t | flow | The river doesn’t flow uphill. |
| My father | doesn’t | cook | My father doesn’t cook spicy food. |
| My mother | doesn’t | sew | My mother doesn’t sew curtains. |
| The wind | doesn’t | blow | The wind doesn’t blow indoors. |
| He | doesn’t | run | He doesn’t run marathons. |
| She | doesn’t | jump | She doesn’t jump rope. |
| It | doesn’t | cost | It doesn’t cost much to visit the museum. |
| John | doesn’t | fix | John doesn’t fix computers. |
| Mary | doesn’t | mix | Mary doesn’t mix business with pleasure. |
Interrogative Sentences
Interrogative sentences ask a question. In the present simple tense, questions with third-person singular subjects are formed using the auxiliary verb “does” before the subject, followed by the base form of the verb.
The following table provides examples of interrogative sentences using verbs that would normally end in ‘s’ in affirmative sentences. Note the use of “does” at the beginning of the question and the base form of the verb.
| Auxiliary Verb | Subject | Verb | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does | he | eat | Does he eat vegetables? |
| Does | she | read | Does she read comics? |
| Does | it | rain | Does it rain in the summer? |
| Does | John | work | Does John work late? |
| Does | Mary | study | Does Mary study French? |
| Does | the dog | bark | Does the dog bark at night? |
| Does | the cat | sleep | Does the cat sleep on the bed? |
| Does | my brother | play | Does my brother play soccer? |
| Does | my sister | dance | Does my sister dance hip-hop? |
| Does | the sun | shine | Does the sun shine every day? |
| Does | he | write | Does he write novels? |
| Does | she | sing | Does she sing well? |
| Does | it | snow | Does it snow often here? |
| Does | John | teach | Does John teach history? |
| Does | Mary | watch | Does Mary watch documentaries? |
| Does | the bird | fly | Does the bird fly south for the winter? |
| Does | the river | flow | Does the river flow quickly? |
| Does | my father | cook | Does my father cook on Sundays? |
| Does | my mother | sew | Does my mother sew clothes? |
| Does | the wind | blow | Does the wind blow hard today? |
| Does | he | run | Does he run fast? |
| Does | she | jump | Does she jump high? |
| Does | it | cost | Does it cost much to travel? |
| Does | John | fix | Does John fix bikes? |
| Does | Mary | mix | Does Mary mix the paint well? |
Usage Rules
Present Simple Tense
The present simple tense is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, facts, and fixed arrangements. With third-person singular subjects, the verb takes the ‘s’ form. For example: “He plays tennis every week,” “The Earth revolves around the sun,” and “The train leaves at 9 AM.”
Exceptions to the Rule
There are a few exceptions to the rule of adding ‘s’ to the verb in the present simple tense. These exceptions mainly occur with auxiliary verbs such as “be” and “have.”
- To be: The third-person singular form of “to be” is “is” (e.g., He is a doctor).
- To have: The third-person singular form of “to have” is “has” (e.g., She has a car).
Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule in English grammar that requires the verb to match the subject in number (singular or plural). When the subject is a third-person singular noun or pronoun (he, she, it), the verb must end in ‘s’ in the present simple tense. For instance, “She likes coffee” is correct, while “She like coffee” is incorrect.
Common Mistakes
One of the most common mistakes is forgetting to add ‘s’ to the verb when using a third-person singular subject in the present simple tense. Another frequent error is using the ‘s’ form of the verb with plural subjects or with subjects that are not in the third person singular.
Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| He eat breakfast. | He eats breakfast. | Missing ‘s’ on the verb. |
| They eats lunch. | They eat lunch. | ‘Eats’ is for third-person singular only. |
| She like to sing. | She likes to sing. | Missing ‘s’ on the verb. |
| I has a car. | I have a car. | ‘Has’ is only for third-person singular. |
| The dogs barks loudly. | The dogs bark loudly. | ‘Barks’ is for singular subjects only. |
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Remember to use the ‘s’ form when the subject is third-person singular.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. He ______ (play) tennis every Sunday. | 1. plays |
| 2. She ______ (study) English at the university. | 2. studies |
| 3. It ______ (rain) a lot in April. | 3. rains |
| 4. John ______ (work) at a bank. | 4. works |
| 5. Mary ______ (watch) movies every weekend. | 5. watches |
| 6. The dog ______ (bark) at strangers. | 6. barks |
| 7. The cat ______ (sleep) all day. | 7. sleeps |
| 8. My brother ______ (like) to play video games. | 8. likes |
| 9. My sister ______ (dance) ballet. | 9. dances |
| 10. The sun ______ (shine) brightly. | 10. shines |
Exercise 2: Correct the Errors
Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences. Some sentences may be correct.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. She eat apples. | 1. She eats apples. |
| 2. He study hard. | 2. He studies hard. |
| 3. It rain a lot. | 3. It rains a lot. |
| 4. John work at the hospital. | 4. John works at the hospital. |
| 5. Mary like chocolate. | 5. Mary likes chocolate. |
| 6. The dog bark loudly. | 6. The dog barks loudly. |
| 7. The cat sleeps on the couch. | 7. Correct |
| 8. My brother play the guitar. | 8. My brother plays the guitar. |
| 9. My sister dances well. | 9. Correct |
| 10. The sun shine every day. | 10. The sun shines every day. |
Exercise 3: Sentence Construction
Create sentences using the following subjects and verbs. Ensure that the verb agrees with the subject in the present simple tense.
| Subject | Verb | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| He | read | He reads books every night. |
| She | write | She writes in her diary daily. |
| It | snow | It snows in winter. |
| John | teach | John teaches mathematics. |
| Mary | watch | Mary watches TV after dinner. |
| The dog | run | The dog runs in the park. |
| The cat | eat | The cat eats fish. |
| My brother | swim | My brother swims in the pool. |
| My sister | sing | My sister sings beautifully. |
| The sun | rise | The sun rises in the east. |
Advanced Topics
Emphatic ‘Do’
In some cases, “do” or “does” can be used for emphasis in affirmative sentences. For example, “He does like chocolate” emphasizes that he really likes chocolate, even though it might seem surprising. The verb following “do” or “does” remains in its base form.
Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, suggestions, or hypothetical situations. In certain constructions, the ‘s’ ending on the verb is dropped, even with third-person singular subjects. This is more common in formal writing and is often found after verbs like “suggest,” “recommend,” or “insist.” For example, “I suggest that he study harder” (not “studies”).
FAQ
- Why do some verbs end in ‘s’ in the present simple tense?
Verbs end in ‘s’ in the present simple tense when the subject is a third-person singular noun or pronoun (he, she, it). This is a rule of subject-verb agreement in English grammar.
- What happens to the ‘s’ when forming negative sentences?
In negative sentences, the auxiliary verb “does” is used, and the main verb reverts to its base form without the ‘s’. For example, “He does not eat” instead of “He eats not.”
- How do I form questions with verbs that normally end in ‘s’?
Questions are formed using the auxiliary verb “does” before the subject, followed by the base form of the verb. For example, “Does she like ice cream?”
- Are there any exceptions to the ‘s’ rule?
Yes, the verbs “to be” and “to have” have irregular third-person singular forms: “is” and “has,” respectively.
- What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement is the rule that the verb must match the subject in number (singular or plural). If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.
- What should I do if I forget to add the ‘s’?
Practice regularly and pay close attention to the subject of the sentence. Reviewing examples and doing exercises can help reinforce the rule.
- How can I improve my understanding of verbs ending in ‘s’?
Read English texts, listen to English conversations, and practice writing sentences using verbs ending in ‘s’. Pay attention to how native speakers use these verbs.
- Is it important to always use ‘s’ with third-person singular?
Yes, it is very important for grammatical correctness. Omitting the ‘s’ can lead to confusion and make your writing or speech sound incorrect.
Conclusion
Mastering verbs that end in ‘s’ is a fundamental aspect of English grammar. This article has provided a comprehensive overview of their formation, usage, and common pitfalls.
By understanding the rules of subject-verb agreement and practicing regularly, you can confidently use these verbs in your writing and speaking. Remember to pay attention to the subject of the sentence and to use the correct form of the verb.
Continue to practice and review the concepts discussed in this article. With consistent effort, you will improve your accuracy and fluency in English.
Don’t be discouraged by mistakes; they are a natural part of the learning process. Keep practicing, and you will soon master the use of verbs that end in ‘s’.