Beginner’s Guide to Verbs Ending in ‘S’

Understanding verbs that end in ‘s’ is crucial for mastering basic English grammar. These verbs primarily appear in the present simple tense and are used with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it).

Correct usage of these verbs is essential for forming grammatically accurate sentences and conveying clear meaning. This guide is designed for beginner to intermediate English learners who want to solidify their understanding of verb conjugation and improve their overall writing and speaking skills.

By the end of this article, you will be able to confidently identify and use verbs ending in ‘s’ in various contexts.

Table of Contents

• Definition of Verbs Ending in ‘S’
• Structural Breakdown
• Types of Verbs
• Examples of Verbs Ending in ‘S’
• 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 when the subject is a third-person singular noun or pronoun (he, she, it, or a singular noun like “the dog,” “Mary,” “my brother”). This grammatical form indicates an action that is habitual, factual, or generally true. The addition of ‘s’ to the base form of the verb is a conjugation rule that helps to maintain subject-verb agreement, a fundamental principle of English grammar.

For example, in the sentence “He walks to school every day,” the verb “walks” ends in ‘s’ because the subject is “he,” a third-person singular pronoun. This indicates a regular, recurring action. Similarly, in the statement “The sun rises in the east,” the verb “rises” ends in ‘s’ because the subject is “the sun,” a singular noun. This conveys a general truth or fact.

The use of verbs ending in ‘s’ is critical for clear communication. Incorrect usage can lead to confusion and misinterpretation.

Mastering this concept is essential for building a strong foundation in English grammar and improving overall language proficiency. Understanding when and how to use these verbs correctly will significantly enhance your ability to express yourself accurately and effectively.

Structural Breakdown

The structure of verbs ending in ‘s’ is relatively straightforward. Typically, you add an ‘s’ to the base form of the verb when the subject is a third-person singular pronoun (he, she, it) or a singular noun in the present simple tense.

However, there are some variations depending on the ending of the base verb.

Basic Rule: Adding ‘s’

For most verbs, you simply add ‘s’ to the base form. For example:

• walk → walks
• eat → eats
• read → reads
• play → plays
• think → thinks

Verbs Ending in -y

If the verb ends in a consonant followed by ‘y’, you change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es’. For example:

• study → studies
• cry → cries
• try → tries
• fly → flies
• worry → worries

However, if the verb ends in a vowel followed by ‘y’, you simply add ‘s’. For example:

• play → plays
• enjoy → enjoys
• stay → stays
• obey → obeys
• say → says

Verbs Ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z

If the verb ends in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, you add ‘es’. For example:

• kiss → kisses
• miss → misses
• wash → washes
• watch → watches
• fix → fixes
• buzz → buzzes

Irregular Verbs

The verb “to have” is an irregular verb. Its third-person singular form is “has.” For example:

• He has a car.
• She has a book.
• It has a tail.

Types of Verbs

Understanding the different types of verbs is crucial for correctly applying the ‘s’ ending. We can classify verbs into action verbs, linking verbs, and auxiliary verbs.

Action Verbs

Action verbs describe actions that the subject performs. These verbs are most commonly used with the ‘s’ ending in the present simple tense.

For example:

• He runs every morning.
• She writes a letter.
• The dog barks loudly.

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs connect the subject to a noun or adjective that describes or identifies the subject. The most common linking verb is “to be,” which has the third-person singular form “is.” For example:

• He is a doctor.
• She is happy.
• It is a cat.

Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs (also known as helping verbs) are used with main verbs to form different tenses, moods, or voices. The most common auxiliary verbs are “to be,” “to have,” and “to do.” The third-person singular forms are “is,” “has,” and “does,” respectively.

For example:

• He is running.
• She has finished.
• He does not like coffee.

Examples of Verbs Ending in ‘S’

The following tables provide extensive examples of verbs ending in ‘s’ used in various contexts. These examples are categorized to help you understand the different forms and usages.

Table 1: Basic Examples with Action Verbs

This table illustrates the use of ‘s’ endings with common action verbs in the present simple tense.

Subject	Verb (with ‘s’)	Sentence
He	walks	He walks to school every day.
She	eats	She eats breakfast at 7 a.m.
It	sleeps	The cat sleeps on the sofa.
John	reads	John reads the newspaper daily.
Mary	plays	Mary plays the piano beautifully.
The dog	barks	The dog barks at strangers.
My brother	works	My brother works in a bank.
The sun	shines	The sun shines brightly in the summer.
The bird	sings	The bird sings a sweet song.
He	drinks	He drinks coffee in the morning.
She	writes	She writes poetry in her free time.
It	rains	It rains a lot in April.
John	smiles	John smiles when he sees her.
Mary	dances	Mary dances gracefully.
The dog	jumps	The dog jumps over the fence.
My brother	listens	My brother listens to music.
The sun	sets	The sun sets in the west.
The bird	flies	The bird flies high in the sky.
He	cooks	He cooks dinner every night.
She	teaches	She teaches English at the local school.

Table 2: Examples with Verbs Ending in -y

This table demonstrates how to conjugate verbs ending in ‘y’ when used with third-person singular subjects.

Subject	Verb (with ‘s’)	Sentence
He	studies	He studies hard for his exams.
She	cries	She cries when she watches sad movies.
It	flies	The bird flies south for the winter.
John	tries	John tries his best in everything he does.
Mary	worryies	Mary worries about her health.
The baby	cries	The baby cries when he is hungry.
My sister	studies	My sister studies medicine at university.
He	applies	He applies for jobs online every day.
She	replies	She replies to emails promptly.
It	dries	The clothes dries quickly in the sun.
John	carries	John carries his books in a backpack.
Mary	hurries	Mary hurries to catch the bus.
The bird	flies	The bird flies over the trees.
My father	applies	My father applies for a loan at the bank.
The company	replies	The company replies to customer inquiries.
The wind	dries	The wind dries the laundry quickly.
He	relies	He relies on his friends for support.
She	identifies	She identifies plants in the garden.
It	amplifies	The microphone amplifies the sound.
John	testifies	John testifies in court tomorrow.

Table 3: Examples with Verbs Ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z

This table shows how to conjugate verbs ending in specific consonants when adding the ‘es’ ending.

Subject	Verb (with ‘es’)	Sentence
He	kisses	He kisses his wife goodbye.
She	misses	She misses her family.
It	washes	The washing machine washes the clothes.
John	watches	John watches TV in the evening.
Mary	fixes	Mary fixes computers as a job.
The bee	buzzes	The bee buzzes around the flowers.
He	pushes	He pushes the door open.
She	dresses	She dresses elegantly for parties.
The chef	mixes	The chef mixes the ingredients carefully.
He	reaches	He reaches for the top shelf.
She	guesses	She guesses the answer correctly.
It	rushes	The river rushes down the mountain.
John	catches	John catches the ball easily.
Mary	taxes	The government taxes income.
The dog	chases	The dog chases its tail.
He	fizzes	The soda fizzes when opened.
She	blesses	She blesses her children every night.
It	crushes	The machine crushes the rocks.
John	preaches	John preaches at the church.
Mary	boxes	Mary boxes up the books.

Table 4: Examples with Auxiliary Verbs (is, has, does)

This table illustrates the use of the auxiliary verbs “is,” “has,” and “does” with third-person singular subjects.

Subject	Auxiliary Verb	Sentence
He	is	He is running in the park.
She	has	She has finished her homework.
It	does	It does not matter.
John	is	John is studying for his exam.
Mary	has	Mary has a new car.
The dog	does	The dog does tricks for treats.
He	does	He does the dishes after dinner.
She	is	She is singing a song.
It	has	It has been a long day.
John	is	John is a teacher.
Mary	has	Mary has traveled to many countries.
The company	does	The company does business internationally.
He	is	He is always late.
She	has	She has a good sense of humor.
It	does	It does make sense now.
John	is	John is very kind.
Mary	has	Mary has a lot of friends.
The weather	is	The weather is beautiful today.
He	has	He has a meeting this afternoon.
She	is	She is cooking dinner.

Usage Rules

The primary rule for using verbs ending in ‘s’ is to ensure subject-verb agreement. This means that the verb form must match the subject in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). In the present simple tense, only third-person singular subjects take the ‘s’ ending.

Affirmative Sentences

In affirmative sentences, the ‘s’ ending is added to the base form of the verb when the subject is a third-person singular noun or pronoun. For example:

• He works hard.
• She lives in London.
• It rains a lot here.

Negative Sentences

In negative sentences, the auxiliary verb “does” is used with “not” (or the contraction “doesn’t”) followed by the base form of the verb. The ‘s’ ending is not used on the main verb in negative sentences.

For example:

• He does not work hard. (He doesn’t work hard.)
• She does not live in London. (She doesn’t live in London.)
• It does not rain a lot here. (It doesn’t rain a lot here.)

Interrogative Sentences

In interrogative (question) sentences, the auxiliary verb “does” is used before the subject, followed by the base form of the verb. The ‘s’ ending is not used on the main verb in interrogative sentences.

For example:

• Does he work hard?
• Does she live in London?
• Does it rain a lot here?

Exceptions

There are a few exceptions to the rule of adding ‘s’ to verbs in the present simple tense. The most notable exception is the verb “to be,” which has the irregular third-person singular form “is.” Also, modal verbs (can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must) do not take an ‘s’ ending, regardless of the subject.

Common Mistakes

One of the most common mistakes made by English learners is forgetting to add the ‘s’ ending to verbs when using third-person singular subjects in the present simple tense. This leads to incorrect sentences that can be confusing to native speakers.

Mistake 1: Omitting the ‘s’ Ending

Incorrect	Correct
He walk to school.	He walks to school.
She eat breakfast.	She eats breakfast.
It rain a lot.	It rains a lot.

Mistake 2: Adding ‘s’ to Verbs with Other Subjects

Another common mistake is adding the ‘s’ ending to verbs when the subject is not a third-person singular noun or pronoun. This is incorrect and violates the rule of subject-verb agreement.

Incorrect	Correct
I walks to school.	I walk to school.
They eats breakfast.	They eat breakfast.
We rains a lot.	We have a lot of rain.

Mistake 3: Using ‘s’ in Negative and Interrogative Sentences

Forgetting that auxiliary verbs negate the need for the ‘s’ ending on the main verb is also a frequent error. Therefore, make sure you do not use ‘s’ in negative and interrogative sentences.

Incorrect	Correct
He doesn’t walks to school.	He doesn’t walk to school.
Does she eats breakfast?	Does she eat breakfast?
It doesn’t rains a lot.	It doesn’t rain a lot.

Practice Exercises

The following exercises will help you practice using verbs ending in ‘s’ correctly. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in parentheses, paying close attention to subject-verb agreement.

Question	Answer
1. He _______ (walk) to the park every day.	1. He walks to the park every day.
2. She _______ (eat) lunch at noon.	2. She eats lunch at noon.
3. It _______ (rain) often in the spring.	3. It rains often in the spring.
4. John _______ (study) English at night.	4. John studies English at night.
5. Mary _______ (watch) TV after dinner.	5. Mary watches TV after dinner.
6. The dog _______ (bark) at strangers.	6. The dog barks at strangers.
7. My brother _______ (work) in a hospital.	7. My brother works in a hospital.
8. The sun _______ (shine) brightly.	8. The sun shines brightly.
9. He _______ (try) his best in everything.	9. He tries his best in everything.
10. She _______ (miss) her friends.	10. She misses her friends.

Exercise 2: Correct the Mistakes

Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences related to verb conjugation with ‘s’ endings. Rewrite the sentences with the correct verb forms.

Incorrect Sentence	Correct Sentence
1. She walk to the store.	1. She walks to the store.
2. He eat pizza every Friday.	2. He eats pizza every Friday.
3. It not rain today.	3. It does not rain today.
4. John study hard for his tests.	4. John studies hard for his tests.
5. Mary watch movies on weekends.	5. Mary watches movies on weekends.
6. The cat sleep all day.	6. The cat sleeps all day.
7. My sister work at a bank.	7. My sister works at a bank.
8. The bird fly in the sky.	8. The bird flies in the sky.
9. He doesn’t likes coffee.	9. He doesn’t like coffee.
10. Does she plays the guitar?	10. Does she play the guitar?

Exercise 3: Write Your Own Sentences

Write five sentences using different third-person singular subjects and verbs ending in ‘s’. Make sure your sentences are grammatically correct and demonstrate your understanding of the rules.

Here are some suggestions for subjects and verbs to get you started:

1. He (cook)
2. She (sing)
3. It (snow)
4. John (teach)
5. Mary (dance)

Possible answers:

1. He cooks delicious meals.
2. She sings beautifully in the choir.
3. It snows heavily in winter.
4. John teaches math at the high school.
5. Mary dances ballet with grace.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, there are more nuanced aspects of verbs ending in ‘s’ to explore. These include the use of the subjunctive mood, which can affect subject-verb agreement, and the use of collective nouns as subjects.

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, suggestions, or hypothetical situations. In some cases, the subjunctive mood can override the typical subject-verb agreement rules.

For example:

• It is essential that he be on time. (Instead of “is”)
• I suggest that she go to the doctor. (Instead of “goes”)

Note that the subjunctive mood is becoming less common in modern English, and alternative constructions are often used.

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to a group of individuals but are treated as a single unit. Depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individual members, the verb can be either singular or plural.

For example:

• The team plays well together. (Team as a single unit)
• The team are arguing among themselves. (Team members acting individually)

In American English, collective nouns are usually treated as singular, while in British English, they can be either singular or plural depending on the context.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about verbs ending in ‘s’:

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

   The ‘s’ ending is added to verbs in the present simple tense to indicate that the subject is a third-person singular noun or pronoun (he, she, it). This is part of the subject-verb agreement rules in English grammar.

2. What happens if the verb ends in ‘y’?

   If the verb ends in a consonant followed by ‘y’, you change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es’. If the verb ends in a vowel followed by ‘y’, you simply add ‘s’.

3. Do I need to add ‘s’ to verbs in negative sentences?

   No, you do not add ‘s’ to verbs in negative sentences. The auxiliary verb “does” is used with “not” (or “doesn’t”), and the main verb remains in its base form.

4. What about interrogative sentences?

   In interrogative sentences, the auxiliary verb “does” is used before the subject, and the main verb remains in its base form. The ‘s’ ending is not used on the main verb.

5. Is the verb “to have” regular or irregular?

   The verb “to have” is irregular. Its third-person singular form is “has.”

6. What are auxiliary verbs?

   Auxiliary verbs (also known as helping verbs) are used with main verbs to form different tenses, moods, or voices. The most common auxiliary verbs are “to be,” “to have,” and “to do.”

7. What are some common mistakes to avoid?

   Common mistakes include omitting the ‘s’ ending when using third-person singular subjects, adding ‘s’ to verbs with other subjects, and using ‘s’ in negative and interrogative sentences.

8. How can I improve my understanding of verbs ending in ‘s’?

   Practice regularly, pay attention to subject-verb agreement, and review the rules and exceptions outlined in this guide. Reading and listening to English content will also help you internalize the correct usage.

Conclusion

Mastering verbs that end in ‘s’ is a fundamental step in building a strong foundation in English grammar. By understanding the rules of subject-verb agreement, recognizing different verb types, and avoiding common mistakes, you can significantly improve your ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

Remember to practice regularly and pay close attention to the context in which verbs are used. With consistent effort, you will become more confident in your use of verbs ending in ‘s’ and enhance your overall language proficiency.

Continue to explore different aspects of English grammar and vocabulary to further expand your knowledge and skills. Consistent learning and practice are key to achieving fluency and mastering the English language.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; they are a natural part of the learning process. Embrace challenges and celebrate your progress as you continue on your language learning journey.