Adding ‘S’ and ‘ES’ to Verbs: A Comprehensive Guide

Mastering the simple present tense is crucial for clear and effective communication in English. A key aspect of this tense is understanding when to add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to verbs.

This article provides a detailed explanation of the rules, exceptions, and common mistakes associated with this grammatical concept. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will help you confidently navigate the nuances of verb conjugation in the simple present tense, improving your overall accuracy and fluency in English.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The simple present tense is one of the first tenses English learners encounter, but mastering its finer points can be challenging. One of the trickiest aspects is knowing when to add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to a verb.

This seemingly small detail is essential for grammatical accuracy and clear communication. Adding the correct suffix demonstrates a solid understanding of subject-verb agreement and elevates the quality of your writing and speaking.

This article will break down the rules governing the addition of ‘s’ and ‘es’ to verbs in the simple present tense. We’ll explore the structural elements, provide numerous examples, and address common mistakes.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear understanding of when and how to use these suffixes correctly, improving your overall command of English grammar.

Definition: Simple Present Tense and Verb Conjugation

The simple present tense is used to describe habits, general truths, repeated actions, or unchanging situations, emotions, and wishes. It’s also used to give instructions or directions, and to talk about scheduled events in the near future. A key feature of the simple present tense is subject-verb agreement, which means the form of the verb must agree with the subject of the sentence.

Verb conjugation refers to the process of changing the form of a verb to reflect different grammatical categories such as tense, person, number, and mood. In the simple present tense, verb conjugation primarily involves adding ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the base form of the verb when the subject is a singular noun or pronoun in the third person (he, she, it). Understanding verb conjugation is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences.

Structural Breakdown: Subject-Verb Agreement

The core principle behind adding ‘s’ or ‘es’ to verbs is subject-verb agreement. This means the verb must match the subject in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). In the simple present tense, the rule is straightforward: for third-person singular subjects (he, she, it), we generally add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the base form of the verb. For all other subjects (I, you, we, they), the verb remains in its base form.

Let’s break down the structure:

  • Singular Subjects:
    • First Person: I + verb (base form)
    • Second Person: You + verb (base form)
    • Third Person: He/She/It + verb + s/es
  • Plural Subjects:
    • First Person: We + verb (base form)
    • Second Person: You + verb (base form)
    • Third Person: They + verb (base form)

For example:

  • I eat breakfast every morning.
  • You eat breakfast every morning.
  • He eats breakfast every morning.
  • We eat breakfast every morning.
  • You eat breakfast every morning.
  • They eat breakfast every morning.

Types of Verbs and Their Conjugation

While the general rule is to add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the verb for third-person singular subjects, the specific suffix depends on the verb’s ending. There are a few key categories to consider:

Regular Verbs

Most verbs are regular and simply require the addition of ‘s’ to the base form. For example, “walk” becomes “walks,” “play” becomes “plays,” and “read” becomes “reads.”

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

Verbs ending in these sounds typically require the addition of ‘es’ to maintain pronunciation. Examples include “kiss” becoming “kisses,” “wash” becoming “washes,” “watch” becoming “watches,” “fix” becoming “fixes,” and “buzz” becoming “buzzes.”

Verbs Ending in -y (Preceded by a Consonant)

If a verb ends in ‘y’ and is preceded by a consonant, the ‘y’ is usually changed to ‘i’ before adding ‘es’. For example, “study” becomes “studies,” “cry” becomes “cries,” and “try” becomes “tries.” However, if the ‘y’ is preceded by a vowel, you simply add ‘s’ (e.g., “play” becomes “plays”).

Verbs Ending in -o

Most verbs ending in ‘o’ also take ‘es’ in the third-person singular. Common examples include “go” becoming “goes” and “do” becoming “does.”

Examples of Verb Conjugation with ‘S’ and ‘ES’

To further illustrate the rules, let’s examine several examples organized by the different verb endings. These examples will help solidify your understanding of when to use ‘s’ versus ‘es’.

Table 1: Regular Verbs (Adding ‘S’)

This table demonstrates the conjugation of regular verbs in the simple present tense, focusing on the third-person singular form where ‘s’ is added to the base verb.

Subject Verb (Base Form) Verb (Third-Person Singular) Example Sentence
I walk walks I walk to school every day.
You walk walks You walk to school every day.
He walk walks He walks to school every day.
She walk walks She walks to school every day.
It walk walks It walks to school every day.(referring to a robot dog)
We walk walks We walk to school every day.
They walk walks They walk to school every day.
I play plays I play the guitar.
You play plays You play the guitar.
He play plays He plays the guitar.
She play plays She plays the guitar.
It play plays It plays music.
We play plays We play the guitar.
They play plays They play the guitar.
I read reads I read books every night.
You read reads You read books every night.
He read reads He reads books every night.
She read reads She reads books every night.
It read reads It reads data quickly.
We read reads We read books every night.
They read reads They read books every night.
I eat eats I eat dinner at 7 PM.
You eat eats You eat dinner at 7 PM.
He eat eats He eats dinner at 7 PM.
She eat eats She eats dinner at 7 PM.
It eat eats It eats food automatically.
We eat eats We eat dinner at 7 PM.
They eat eats They eat dinner at 7 PM.

Table 2: Verbs Ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -z (Adding ‘ES’)

This table focuses on verbs that require ‘es’ to be added in the third-person singular form. Pay attention to the verb endings and the resulting pronunciation.

Subject Verb (Base Form) Verb (Third-Person Singular) Example Sentence
I kiss kisses I kiss my child goodnight.
You kiss kisses You kiss your child goodnight.
He kiss kisses He kisses his child goodnight.
She kiss kisses She kisses her child goodnight.
It kiss kisses It kisses the air.(sound effect)
We kiss kisses We kiss our child goodnight.
They kiss kisses They kiss their child goodnight.
I wash washes I wash the dishes after dinner.
You wash washes You wash the dishes after dinner.
He wash washes He washes the dishes after dinner.
She wash washes She washes the dishes after dinner.
It wash washes It washes itself. (referring to a cat)
We wash washes We wash the dishes after dinner.
They wash washes They wash the dishes after dinner.
I watch watches I watch TV in the evening.
You watch watches You watch TV in the evening.
He watch watches He watches TV in the evening.
She watch watches She watches TV in the evening.
It watch watches It watches for movement. (security camera)
We watch watches We watch TV in the evening.
They watch watches They watch TV in the evening.
I fix fixes I fix computers as a hobby.
You fix fixes You fix computers as a hobby.
He fix fixes He fixes computers as a hobby.
She fix fixes She fixes computers as a hobby.
It fix fixes It fixes errors automatically.
We fix fixes We fix computers as a hobby.
They fix fixes They fix computers as a hobby.
I buzz buzzes I buzz around the office.
You buzz buzzes You buzz around the office.
He buzz buzzes He buzzes around the office.
She buzz buzzes She buzzes around the office.
It buzz buzzes It buzzes loudly. (a bee)
We buzz buzzes We buzz around the office.
They buzz buzzes They buzz around the office.

Table 3: Verbs Ending in -y (Preceded by a Consonant) – (Changing ‘y’ to ‘i’ and Adding ‘ES’)

This table demonstrates how verbs ending in ‘y’ preceded by a consonant change to ‘i’ and then add ‘es’ in the third-person singular form.

Subject Verb (Base Form) Verb (Third-Person Singular) Example Sentence
I study studies I study English every day.
You study studies You study English every day.
He study studies He studies English every day.
She study studies She studies English every day.
It study studies It studies patterns. (a computer program)
We study studies We study English every day.
They study studies They study English every day.
I cry cries I cry during sad movies.
You cry cries You cry during sad movies.
He cry cries He cries during sad movies.
She cry cries She cries during sad movies.
It cry cries It cries out in pain. (an animal)
We cry cries We cry during sad movies.
They cry cries They cry during sad movies.
I try tries I try my best in everything.
You try tries You try your best in everything.
He try tries He tries his best in everything.
She try tries She tries her best in everything.
It try tries It tries to open the door. (a robot)
We try tries We try our best in everything.
They try tries They try their best in everything.

Table 4: Verbs Ending in -o (Adding ‘ES’)

This table shows the conjugation of verbs ending in ‘o’ in the simple present tense, highlighting the addition of ‘es’ for the third-person singular form.

Subject Verb (Base Form) Verb (Third-Person Singular) Example Sentence
I go goes I go to the gym every morning.
You go goes You go to the gym every morning.
He go goes He goes to the gym every morning.
She go goes She goes to the gym every morning.
It go goes It goes without saying.
We go goes We go to the gym every morning.
They go goes They go to the gym every morning.
I do does I do my homework after school.
You do does You do your homework after school.
He do does He does his homework after school.
She do does She does her homework after school.
It do does It does its job well.
We do does We do our homework after school.
They do does They do their homework after school.

Table 5: Verbs Ending in -y (Preceded by a Vowel) – (Adding ‘S’)

This table illustrates the rule where verbs ending in ‘y’ preceded by a vowel simply add ‘s’ in the third-person singular form, without changing the ‘y’ to ‘i’.

Subject Verb (Base Form) Verb (Third-Person Singular) Example Sentence
I play plays I play tennis on weekends.
You play plays You play tennis on weekends.
He play plays He plays tennis on weekends.
She play plays She plays tennis on weekends.
It play plays It plays a recording.
We play plays We play tennis on weekends.
They play plays They play tennis on weekends.
I stay stays I stay at home on Sundays.
You stay stays You stay at home on Sundays.
He stay stays He stays at home on Sundays.
She stay stays She stays at home on Sundays.
It stay stays It stays online all day.
We stay stays We stay at home on Sundays.
They stay stays They stay at home on Sundays.
I enjoy enjoys I enjoy listening to music.
You enjoy enjoys You enjoy listening to music.
He enjoy enjoys He enjoys listening to music.
She enjoy enjoys She enjoys listening to music.
It enjoy enjoys It enjoys the warmth.
We enjoy enjoys We enjoy listening to music.
They enjoy enjoys They enjoy listening to music.

Usage Rules: When to Add ‘S’ or ‘ES’

The usage rules for adding ‘s’ or ‘es’ are governed by subject-verb agreement in the simple present tense. Here’s a summary of the key rules:

  • Rule 1: For third-person singular subjects (he, she, it), add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the base form of the verb.
  • Rule 2: For all other subjects (I, you, we, they), use the base form of the verb without adding ‘s’ or ‘es’.
  • Rule 3: If a verb ends in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z, add ‘es’.
  • Rule 4: If a verb ends in ‘y’ and is preceded by a consonant, change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es’.
  • Rule 5: If a verb ends in ‘y’ and is preceded by a vowel, simply add ‘s’.
  • Rule 6: Most verbs ending in ‘o’ take ‘es’.

It’s important to note that these rules apply specifically to the simple present tense. In other tenses, the verb conjugation may be different.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

One of the most frequent errors made by English learners is incorrect subject-verb agreement in the simple present tense. Here are some common mistakes and how to correct them:

  • Mistake 1: Forgetting to add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the verb with a third-person singular subject.
    • Incorrect: He eat breakfast.
    • Correct: He eats breakfast.
  • Mistake 2: Adding ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the verb with a subject other than third-person singular.
    • Incorrect: I eats breakfast.
    • Correct: I eat breakfast.
  • Mistake 3: Incorrectly applying the ‘y’ rule (not changing ‘y’ to ‘i’ when preceded by a consonant, or changing it when preceded by a vowel).
    • Incorrect: He studys every night.
    • Correct: He studies every night.
    • Incorrect: He plays.
    • Correct: He plays.
  • Mistake 4: Confusing plural nouns with third-person singular verbs.
    • Incorrect: The students studies hard.
    • Correct: The students study hard. (plural subject)
    • Correct: The student studies hard. (singular subject)

To avoid these mistakes, always double-check your subject-verb agreement. Identify the subject and ensure the verb is correctly conjugated for that subject in the simple present tense.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of adding ‘s’ and ‘es’ to verbs with these practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the simple present tense.

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Verb Form

Select the correct form of the verb to complete each sentence.

Question Options Answer
He ______ (watch/watches) TV every evening. a) watch, b) watches b) watches
They ______ (play/plays) soccer on Saturdays. a) play, b) plays a) play
She ______ (study/studies) hard for her exams. a) study, b) studies b) studies
I ______ (go/goes) to the gym regularly. a) go, b) goes a) go
The dog ______ (bark/barks) at strangers. a) bark, b) barks b) barks
We ______ (eat/eats) dinner together as a family. a) eat, b) eats a) eat
You ______ (do/does) your best in everything. a) do, b) does a) do
It ______ (rain/rains) a lot in the spring. a) rain, b) rains b) rains
The bird ______ (fly/flies) south for the winter. a) fly, b) flies b) flies
My friend ______ (live/lives) in New York City. a) live, b) lives b) lives

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following sentences by adding the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

Question Answer
She ______ (wash) her car every week. washes
They ______ (try) to learn new things. try
He ______ (fix) computers for a living. fixes
I ______ (enjoy) reading novels. enjoy
The cat ______ (sleep) all day. sleeps
We ______ (watch) movies on weekends. watch
You ______ (study) for your exams. study
It ______ (buzz) loudly. buzzes
The sun ______ (rise) in the east. rises
My sister ______ (go) to college. goes

Exercise 3: Correct the Mistakes

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.

Question Correct Answer
He eat lunch at noon. He eats lunch at noon.
They plays basketball after school. They play basketball after school.
She study English every day. She studies English every day.
I goes to the library on Saturdays. I go to the library on Saturdays.
The dog bark at the mailman. The dog barks at the mailman.
We eats dinner together. We eat dinner together.
You does your homework. You do your homework.
It rains often in the spring. It rains often in the spring. (Correct)
The bird flys high in the sky. The bird flies high in the sky.
My friend live near the park. My friend lives near the park.

Advanced Topics: Irregular Verbs and Exceptions

While most verbs follow the rules outlined above, there are a few irregular verbs that have unique conjugations in the simple present tense. The most common irregular verb is “to be,” which has the following forms:

  • I am
  • You are
  • He/She/It is
  • We are
  • You are
  • They are

Another common irregular verb is “to have,” which becomes “has” in the third-person singular:

  • I have
  • You have
  • He/She/It has
  • We have
  • You have
  • They have

Additionally, some verbs that appear to end in ‘o’ might not follow the standard ‘es’ rule. For example, “photo” becomes “photos,” not “photoes.” These exceptions are often due to the word’s origin and pronunciation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some frequently asked questions about adding ‘s’ and ‘es’ to verbs in the simple present tense:

  1. Q: Why do we need to add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to verbs in the simple present tense?

    A: Adding ‘s’ or ‘es’ is necessary for subject-verb agreement. It helps to clearly indicate whether the subject is singular or plural, and ensures the sentence is grammatically correct. It

    is especially important in the third-person singular form to maintain clarity.

  2. Q: What if the subject is a collective noun (e.g., team, family)?

    A: Collective nouns can be tricky. If the collective noun is acting as a single unit, use the singular verb form (with ‘s’ or ‘es’). If the collective noun is acting as individual members, use the plural verb form. For example: “The team plays well together.” (single unit) vs. “The team are arguing about their positions.” (individual members)

  3. Q: Are there any verbs that never take ‘s’ or ‘es’?

    A: Modal verbs (e.g., can, should, must, might) never take ‘s’ or ‘es’, regardless of the subject. For example: “He can swim,” not “He cans swim.”

  4. Q: What about compound subjects (e.g., John and Mary)?

    A: Compound subjects joined by “and” are generally considered plural. Therefore, you would not add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the verb. For example: “John and Mary study together.”

  5. Q: How can I improve my subject-verb agreement skills?

    A: Practice is key! Pay close attention to the subject of each sentence and consciously choose the correct verb form. Review grammar rules regularly and seek feedback on your writing to identify and correct any errors.

Conclusion

Mastering the rules for adding ‘s’ and ‘es’ to verbs in the simple present tense is a fundamental aspect of English grammar. While it may seem challenging at first, a clear understanding of subject-verb agreement, verb endings, and exceptions will enable you to write and speak with greater accuracy and confidence.

By following the guidelines and practicing regularly, you can avoid common mistakes and express yourself effectively in English. Remember to pay attention to the subject of each sentence and choose the verb form that agrees with it.

With consistent effort, you’ll significantly improve your command of the simple present tense and your overall fluency in English.

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