He, She, It + Verb with ‘S’: Mastering the Present Simple

Understanding how to use verbs correctly with the pronouns “he,” “she,” and “it” in the present simple tense is a fundamental skill in English grammar. This rule, often called the third-person singular agreement, is crucial for forming grammatically correct sentences and conveying clear meaning.

Mastering this concept will significantly improve your writing and speaking accuracy, allowing you to express yourself more confidently. Whether you are a beginner learning the basics or an intermediate learner looking to refine your skills, this comprehensive guide will provide you with the knowledge and practice you need to confidently use verbs with “he,” “she,” and “it.”

This article will break down the rules, provide numerous examples, address common mistakes, and offer practice exercises to solidify your understanding. By the end of this article, you will have a solid grasp of this essential grammar point, enabling you to communicate more effectively in English.

Table of Contents

Definition: The Third-Person Singular ‘S’

The third-person singular ‘s’ refers to the addition of the letter ‘s’ (or ‘es’) to the base form of a verb when the subject is he, she, or it in the present simple tense. This grammatical rule is a fundamental aspect of subject-verb agreement in English. Subject-verb agreement simply means that the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject.

Classification: This rule falls under the category of morphology (the study of word formation) and syntax (the study of sentence structure). Specifically, it’s a morphological change (adding ‘s’ or ‘es’) that affects the syntactic correctness of a sentence.

Function: The primary function of adding ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the verb is to indicate that the subject performing the action is singular and in the third person (he, she, it). It helps distinguish the third-person singular from other persons (I, you, we, they) in the present simple tense.

Contexts: This rule applies in various contexts where the present simple tense is used, including:

  • Expressing general truths or facts (The sun rises in the east.)
  • Describing habits and routines (He drinks coffee every morning.)
  • Referring to fixed schedules or timetables (The train leaves at 9 am.)

Structural Breakdown: Subject-Verb Agreement

The basic structure is: Subject (He/She/It) + Verb (with ‘s’ or ‘es’) + Object/Complement.

Let’s break this down further:

  • Subject: This is the person or thing performing the action. In this case, it must be he, she, or it, or a noun that can be replaced by one of these pronouns (e.g., John (he), Mary (she), The cat (it)).
  • Verb: This is the action word. It must be in its base form with an ‘s’ or ‘es’ added to the end. The specific rules for adding ‘s’ or ‘es’ are outlined below.
  • Object/Complement: This is optional and depends on the verb. It provides more information about the action or the subject.

Rules for Adding ‘s’ or ‘es’:

  • Most verbs: Add ‘s’ to the base form of the verb. Example: He works, She plays, It runs.
  • Verbs ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -o: Add ‘es’. Example: He kisses, She washes, It watches, He fixes, She goes.
  • Verbs ending in consonant + ‘y’: Change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es’. Example: He studies, She cries, It flies. (But if it ends in a vowel + ‘y’, just add ‘s’. Example: He plays, She enjoys, It stays.)

Types and Categories of Verbs

Understanding the different types of verbs can help you apply the ‘he, she, it + verb with ‘s” rule more effectively. Here are some key categories:

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs form their past tense and past participle by adding ‘-ed’. In the present simple, the third-person singular form simply adds ‘-s’ to the base form.

These are the most straightforward to use.

Examples:

  • He walks to school.
  • She talks a lot.
  • It rains often in this area.

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs do not follow the standard ‘-ed’ rule for forming the past tense and past participle. In the present simple, some irregular verbs have unique third-person singular forms, most notably the verb “to have,” which becomes “has.”

Examples:

  • He has a car.
  • She does her homework every day.
  • It goes without saying that he is talented.

Stative Verbs

Stative verbs describe states, feelings, or opinions rather than actions. They are generally not used in continuous tenses (e.g., present continuous).

The ‘he, she, it + verb with ‘s” rule still applies to stative verbs in the present simple.

Examples:

  • He knows the answer.
  • She likes chocolate.
  • It seems difficult.

Examples: Illustrating Verb Usage

To further illustrate the use of verbs with ‘he,’ ‘she,’ and ‘it,’ let’s look at examples in different sentence types.

Positive Sentences

These are statements that affirm something. The structure is straightforward: Subject (He/She/It) + Verb (with ‘s’/’es’) + Object/Complement.

Here is a table with 30 examples:

Subject Verb Object/Complement
He works at the bank.
She plays the piano beautifully.
It rains a lot in Seattle.
He eats breakfast every morning.
She reads novels in her free time.
It shines brightly in the sky.
He watches TV in the evening.
She washes the dishes after dinner.
It buzzes around the flower.
He fixes cars as a hobby.
She mixes the ingredients carefully.
It smells delicious in the kitchen.
He goes to the gym regularly.
She does her best in everything.
It grows quickly in the garden.
He studies hard for his exams.
She cries during sad movies.
It flies high in the air.
He enjoys playing video games.
She stays at home on weekends.
It costs a lot of money.
He knows the answer to the question.
She likes to dance.
It seems easy at first.
He has a big house.
She gives generously to charity.
It takes time to learn a new language.
He thinks deeply about the problem.
She feels happy when she sings.
It looks beautiful in the sunlight.

Negative Sentences

Negative sentences deny something. In the present simple, we use “does not” (doesn’t) before the base form of the verb when the subject is ‘he,’ ‘she,’ or ‘it’.

The ‘s’ is already incorporated into “does,” so it’s not added to the main verb.

The structure is: Subject (He/She/It) + Does Not (Doesn’t) + Verb (base form) + Object/Complement.

Here is a table with 30 examples:

Subject Negative Auxiliary Verb Object/Complement
He doesn’t work on Sundays.
She doesn’t play sports very often.
It doesn’t rain much in the summer.
He doesn’t eat meat.
She doesn’t read newspapers.
It doesn’t shine at night.
He doesn’t watch horror movies.
She doesn’t wash the car herself.
It doesn’t buzz loudly.
He doesn’t fix computers.
She doesn’t mix well with strangers.
It doesn’t smell good.
He doesn’t go to parties.
She doesn’t do her hair every day.
It doesn’t grow in that climate.
He doesn’t study on weekends.
She doesn’t cry easily.
It doesn’t fly very far.
He doesn’t enjoy spicy food.
She doesn’t stay up late.
It doesn’t cost much to maintain.
He doesn’t know the answer.
She doesn’t like coffee.
It doesn’t seem right.
He doesn’t have much free time.
She doesn’t give up easily.
It doesn’t take long to cook.
He doesn’t think it’s a good idea.
She doesn’t feel well today.
It doesn’t look comfortable.

Interrogative Sentences (Questions)

Interrogative sentences ask a question. In the present simple, we use “Does” before the subject (he/she/it) and the base form of the verb.

Again, the ‘s’ is incorporated into “Does,” so it’s not added to the main verb.

The structure is: Does + Subject (He/She/It) + Verb (base form) + Object/Complement?

Here is a table with 30 examples:

Auxiliary Verb Subject Verb Object/Complement
Does he work here?
Does she play the guitar?
Does it rain often?
Does he eat spicy food?
Does she read a lot of books?
Does it shine every day?
Does he watch movies regularly?
Does she wash her clothes by hand?
Does it buzz when it’s angry?
Does he fix bikes?
Does she mix the paint well?
Does it smell bad?
Does he go to the gym?
Does she do yoga?
Does it grow easily?
Does he study French?
Does she cry during sad movies?
Does it fly high?
Does he enjoy his job?
Does she stay at home on weekends?
Does it cost a lot?
Does he know the answer?
Does she like ice cream?
Does it seem difficult?
Does he have a car?
Does she give presents often?
Does it take much time?
Does he think it’s a good idea?
Does she feel happy?
Does it look right?

Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency (e.g., always, often, sometimes, rarely, never) are often used with the present simple to describe how often an action occurs. They usually come before the main verb, but after the auxiliary verb “does” in negative sentences and questions.

Examples:

  • He always arrives on time.
  • She often goes to the cinema.
  • It sometimes snows in April.
  • He never eats junk food.
  • She rarely drinks coffee.

Compound Subjects

When two or more subjects are joined by “and,” the verb usually takes the plural form (without ‘s’). However, if the compound subject refers to a single person or thing, the verb takes the singular form (with ‘s’).

Examples:

  • He and she work together. (Two separate people)
  • My friend and colleague works at the same company. (One person who is both a friend and a colleague)

Usage Rules: When and How to Use the ‘S’

The ‘he, she, it + verb with ‘s” rule is primarily used in the present simple tense. Here’s a breakdown of when to apply it:

General Truths and Facts

Use the present simple to express facts or statements that are generally true. This includes scientific facts, widely accepted beliefs, and unchanging truths.

Examples:

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

Habits and Routines

Use the present simple to describe actions that are done regularly or habitually. This includes daily routines, weekly activities, and recurring events.

Examples:

  • He drinks coffee every morning.
  • She goes to the gym three times a week.
  • It eats its food quickly.

Fixed Schedules and Timetables

Use the present simple to refer to events that are scheduled to happen at a specific time, such as train departures, movie screenings, and class schedules.

Examples:

  • The train leaves at 10:00 AM.
  • The movie starts at 7:30 PM.
  • The class begins at 9:00 AM.

Exceptions to the Rule

There are a few exceptions to the ‘he, she, it + verb with ‘s” rule:

  • Modal verbs: Modal verbs (can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must) do not take ‘s’ in the third-person singular. Example: He can swim. She must study. It will rain.
  • Auxiliary verbs in negative and interrogative sentences: As mentioned earlier, when using “does not” (doesn’t) in negative sentences or “Does” in questions, the main verb does not take ‘s’.
  • Subjunctive mood: In certain formal or literary contexts, the subjunctive mood is used, where the verb remains in its base form regardless of the subject. This is less common in everyday speech. Example: It is essential that he be present.

Common Mistakes: Avoiding Errors

Here are some common mistakes to watch out for when using the ‘he, she, it + verb with ‘s” rule:

Incorrect Correct Explanation
He work at the bank. He works at the bank. Missing ‘s’ on the verb.
She play the piano. She plays the piano. Missing ‘s’ on the verb.
It rain a lot. It rains a lot. Missing ‘s’ on the verb.
He doesn’t works here. He doesn’t work here. Incorrect use of ‘s’ after “doesn’t.”
Does he works here? Does he work here? Incorrect use of ‘s’ after “Does.”
She have a car. She has a car. Incorrect form of the verb “to have.”
He can swims well. He can swim well. Modal verbs do not take ‘s’.
The cat eat quickly. The cat eats quickly. Missing ‘s’ on the verb when the subject is singular third person.
My brother and I goes to school. My brother and I go to school. Compound subject “My brother and I” is plural.
John and Mary is friends. John and Mary are friends. Subject is plural, so the verb must be plural.

Practice Exercises: Test Your Knowledge

Test your understanding of the ‘he, she, it + verb with ‘s” rule with these exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

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

Question Answer
1. He _______ (watch) TV every evening. watches
2. She _______ (study) English at university. studies
3. It _______ (rain) a lot in the spring. rains
4. He _______ (go) to the gym regularly. goes
5. She _______ (have) a beautiful voice. has
6. It _______ (seem) difficult at first. seems
7. He _______ (enjoy) playing football. enjoys
8. She _______ (like) to read novels. likes
9. It _______ (cost) a lot of money. costs
10. He _______ (think) it’s a good idea. thinks

Exercise 2: Correct the Errors

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.

Incorrect Sentence Correct Sentence
1. She work hard every day. She works hard every day.
2. He don’t like coffee. He doesn’t like coffee.
3. Does she plays the piano? Does she play the piano?
4. It rain often in this city. It rains often in this city.
5. He have a big house. He has a big house.
6. She can speaks French. She can speak French.
7. The dog bark loudly. The dog barks loudly.
8. My sister and he goes to the park. My sister and he go to the park.
9. John and Mary is going to the party. John and Mary are going to the party.
10. She not understand the question. She doesn’t understand the question.

Exercise 3: Sentence Construction

Write a sentence using the present simple tense with the given subject and verb.

Subject Verb Example Sentence
He read He reads the newspaper every morning.
She cook She cooks delicious meals.
It snow It snows in winter.
He watch He watches movies on weekends.
She teach She teaches English at the university.
It grow It grows quickly in the summer.
He enjoy He enjoys playing sports.
She like She likes to sing and dance.
It cost It costs a lot to live in the city.
He think He thinks carefully before he speaks.

Advanced Topics: Nuances and Complexities

For advanced learners, let’s explore some more complex aspects of the ‘he, she, it + verb with ‘s” rule.

Relative Clauses

In relative clauses that modify ‘he,’ ‘she,’ or ‘it,’ the verb in the relative clause must also agree with the pronoun.

Examples:

  • He is the man who works at the bank.
  • She is the woman who plays the piano.
  • It is the dog that barks loudly.

Impersonal “It”

The pronoun “it” is sometimes used impersonally to refer to general conditions or situations. In these cases, the verb still takes the ‘s’ form.

Examples:

  • It is important to study hard.
  • It seems that he is tired.
  • It doesn’t matter what you think.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the ‘he, she, it + verb with ‘s” rule:

  1. Why do we add ‘s’ to verbs with he, she, and it?

    The addition of ‘s’ to verbs with ‘he,’ ‘she,’ and ‘it’ is a grammatical convention in English to indicate that the subject is singular and in the third person in the present simple tense. It’s a part of subject-verb agreement, ensuring that the verb form matches the subject’s number and person.

  2. What happens if I forget to add ‘s’?

    Forgetting to add ‘s’ can make your sentence grammatically incorrect and may confuse the listener or reader. While the meaning might still be understood, it’s important to use the correct form to demonstrate proficiency and avoid miscommunication.

  3. Does this rule apply to all tenses?

    No, this rule primarily applies to the present simple tense. In other tenses, such as the past simple or future simple, the verb form does not change based on the subject’s person or number.

  4. What about collective nouns like ‘team’ or ‘family’? Do they take ‘s’?

    Collective nouns can be tricky. If the collective noun is acting as a single unit, the verb takes ‘s’. If the members of the group are acting individually, the verb does not take ‘s’. Example: The team plays well. The family are having disagreements (less common, more British English).

  5. How can I practice this rule effectively?

    Consistent practice is key. Try writing sentences using ‘he,’ ‘she,’ and ‘it’ in different contexts. Pay attention to the verb forms and check your work for errors. Reading English texts and listening to native speakers can also help reinforce your understanding.

  6. Are there any regional variations in this rule?

    While the basic rule remains consistent across different English-speaking regions, there might be slight variations in usage or emphasis. However, adhering to the standard rule will ensure clear and effective communication.

  7. What is the difference between “has”

    and “have”?

    “Has” is the third-person singular form of the verb “to have” in the present simple tense. It is used with ‘he,’ ‘she,’ and ‘it.’ “Have” is used with ‘I,’ ‘you,’ ‘we,’ and ‘they.’

  8. Can you give more examples of irregular verbs and their third-person singular forms?

    Certainly! Here are a few more examples:

    • To do: He/She/It does
    • To go: He/She/It goes
    • To say: He/She/It says
  9. How does this rule apply to non-binary pronouns like ‘they’?

    When using the singular ‘they’ as a pronoun, the verb does not take an ‘s’ in the present simple. This is because ‘they’ traditionally takes plural verb forms. Example: “They work at the library.”

  10. What resources can I use to further improve my understanding?

    There are many online resources, grammar books, and language learning apps that can help you practice and improve your understanding of this rule. Look for exercises specifically focused on subject-verb agreement in the present simple tense.

Conclusion

Mastering the ‘he, she, it + verb with ‘s” rule is a crucial step in achieving fluency and accuracy in English. By understanding the underlying principles, practicing regularly, and being aware of common mistakes, you can confidently apply this rule in your writing and speaking.

Remember that consistent effort and attention to detail will lead to significant improvement over time. This seemingly small grammatical point makes a big difference in the clarity and correctness of your communication.

Keep practicing, and you’ll soon find that using the correct verb forms becomes second nature!

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