ESL Tips: Mastering Sentences with Verbs Ending in ‘S’

Understanding how to use verbs ending in ‘s’ correctly is crucial for English language learners (ESL). This grammatical feature primarily applies to the third-person singular present tense and can often be a source of confusion.

Mastering this concept will significantly improve your accuracy in speaking and writing, making your communication clearer and more effective. This article provides a comprehensive guide, offering definitions, examples, usage rules, and practice exercises to help you confidently use verbs ending in ‘s’.

This guide is particularly helpful for beginner to intermediate ESL learners who want to solidify their understanding of basic English grammar and improve their fluency.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition of Verbs Ending in ‘S’
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories
• Examples of Verbs Ending in ‘S’
• Usage Rules
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics
• FAQ
• Conclusion

Definition of Verbs Ending in ‘S’

In English grammar, verbs ending in ‘s’ are primarily used in the simple present tense to indicate actions performed by a third-person singular subject (he, she, it). This grammatical marker signifies that the subject is singular and not the speaker or the person being spoken to. Understanding this concept is crucial for constructing grammatically correct sentences in the present tense.

For example, in the sentence “He walks to school,” the verb “walks” ends in ‘s’ because the subject “he” is a third-person singular pronoun. This contrasts with sentences like “I walk to school” or “They walk to school,” where the verb does not take the ‘s’ ending because the subjects are first-person singular and third-person plural, respectively.

Classification

Verbs ending in ‘s’ fall under the category of finite verbs, which means they are marked for tense and agree with the subject. They are specifically used in the present simple tense to denote habits, routines, general truths, and facts. Recognizing this classification helps learners understand the context in which these verbs are typically used.

Function

The primary function of the ‘s’ ending on a verb is to indicate subject-verb agreement in the third-person singular present tense. This agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar and ensures that the verb form correctly corresponds to the subject performing the action. This function is essential for clear and accurate communication.

Contexts

Verbs ending in ‘s’ are commonly found in various contexts, including:

• Describing daily routines: “She drinks coffee every morning.”
• Stating facts or general truths: “The sun rises in the east.”
• Narrating stories in the present tense: “He enters the room and looks around.”
• Giving instructions or directions: “She adds sugar to the mixture.”

Structural Breakdown

The structure of sentences with verbs ending in ‘s’ generally follows a predictable pattern. Understanding this pattern helps learners construct grammatically correct sentences with ease.

The basic structure is:

Subject (He/She/It) + Verb (ending in ‘s’) + Object/Complement

Let’s break down this structure with examples:

• He eats apples.
• She reads books.
• It rains often in April.

Affirmative Sentences

Affirmative sentences state a fact or truth. The verb takes the ‘s’ ending when the subject is he, she, or it. For example, “She works hard.” The verb “works” agrees with the subject “She.”

Negative Sentences

Negative sentences use “does not” (doesn’t) before the base form of the verb. The ‘s’ is dropped from the verb when using “doesn’t.” For example, “He doesn’t work on Sundays.” Notice that “work” is in its base form, not “works.”

Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences (questions) start with “Does” followed by the subject (he, she, it) and the base form of the verb. The ‘s’ is not used on the verb. For example, “Does she work here?”

Types and Categories

Verbs ending in ‘s’ can be categorized based on their function and the context in which they are used. Understanding these categories can help learners use these verbs more effectively.

Action Verbs

Action verbs describe physical or mental actions. These verbs are commonly used with the ‘s’ ending to describe what someone or something does.

Examples include: runs, jumps, speaks, thinks, and believes.

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs connect the subject to a noun or adjective that describes or identifies the subject. The most common linking verb is “is” (the third-person singular form of “be”).

Other linking verbs include: seems, appears, and becomes.

Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs (helping verbs) are used with a main verb to form a verb phrase. The auxiliary verb “does” is used in questions and negative statements with third-person singular subjects. For example, “He does not like coffee.”

Examples of Verbs Ending in ‘S’

The following tables provide numerous examples of verbs ending in ‘s’ used in different contexts. These examples are categorized to help you understand their usage more clearly.

Table 1: Action Verbs with ‘S’ Endings

This table showcases examples of action verbs used in the third-person singular present tense. These examples demonstrate how action verbs describe physical or mental activities performed by a single subject.

Subject	Verb (with ‘s’)	Example Sentence
He	eats	He eats breakfast every morning.
She	reads	She reads a book before bed.
It	rains	It rains a lot in the spring.
He	walks	He walks to work every day.
She	talks	She talks to her friends on the phone.
It	moves	It moves very slowly.
He	writes	He writes emails to his clients.
She	sings	She sings in the choir every Sunday.
It	shines	The sun shines brightly today.
He	plays	He plays the guitar in a band.
She	cooks	She cooks delicious meals for her family.
It	barks	The dog barks at strangers.
He	drives	He drives to the city every day.
She	teaches	She teaches English at the local school.
It	flies	The bird flies south for the winter.
He	jumps	He jumps over the puddle.
She	laughs	She laughs at the funny joke.
It	smells	It smells like fresh flowers.
He	thinks	He thinks about his future.
She	dreams	She dreams of traveling the world.
He	believes	He believes in hard work.
She	hopes	She hopes for a better tomorrow.
It	seems	It seems like a good idea.
He	knows	He knows the answer to the question.
She	understands	She understands the complex problem.

Table 2: Linking Verbs with ‘S’ Endings

This table provides examples of linking verbs used with third-person singular subjects. Linking verbs connect the subject to a noun or adjective that describes or identifies the subject.

Subject	Verb (with ‘s’)	Example Sentence
He	is	He is a doctor.
She	is	She is a teacher.
It	is	It is a beautiful day.
He	seems	He seems happy.
She	appears	She appears tired.
It	becomes	It becomes clear over time.
He	feels	He feels comfortable.
She	looks	She looks beautiful.
It	sounds	It sounds interesting.
He	tastes	The soup tastes delicious.
She	smells	The flower smells sweet.
It	remains	It remains a mystery.
He	stays	He stays calm under pressure.
She	grows	She grows stronger every day.
It	turns	The weather turns cold in winter.
He	gets	He gets angry easily.
She	proves	She proves her point effectively.
It	implies	The evidence implies his guilt.
He	suggests	He suggests a different approach.
She	represents	She represents the company well.
It	symbolizes	The dove symbolizes peace.
He	equals	Two plus two equals four.
She	constitutes	This constitutes a major problem.
It	reflects	The mirror reflects her image.
He	portrays	He portrays the character convincingly.

Table 3: Auxiliary Verbs with ‘S’ Endings

This table illustrates the use of the auxiliary verb “does” with third-person singular subjects in questions and negative statements. Note that the main verb does not take the ‘s’ ending in these cases.

Subject	Auxiliary Verb (with ‘s’)	Main Verb	Example Sentence
He	Does	like	Does he like coffee?
She	Does	work	Does she work here?
It	Does	matter	Does it matter?
He	Doesn’t	eat	He doesn’t eat meat.
She	Doesn’t	drink	She doesn’t drink alcohol.
It	Doesn’t	work	It doesn’t work properly.
He	Does	play	Does he play any sports?
She	Does	know	Does she know the answer?
It	Does	make	Does it make sense?
He	Doesn’t	understand	He doesn’t understand the question.
She	Doesn’t	speak	She doesn’t speak Spanish.
It	Doesn’t	seem	It doesn’t seem fair.
He	Does	want	Does he want to come with us?
She	Does	need	Does she need any help?
It	Does	cost	Does it cost a lot of money?
He	Doesn’t	believe	He doesn’t believe in ghosts.
She	Doesn’t	remember	She doesn’t remember his name.
It	Doesn’t	matter	It doesn’t matter anymore.
He	Does	care	Does he care about the environment?
She	Does	mind	Does she mind if I open the window?
It	Does	hurt	Does it hurt when you touch it?
He	Doesn’t	like	He doesn’t like the taste of onions.
She	Doesn’t	watch	She doesn’t watch television very often.
It	Doesn’t	work	The remote control doesn’t work.

Table 4: Examples with Irregular Verbs (have, do, go)

Certain verbs have irregular third-person singular forms. This table illustrates the correct usage of these verbs.

Subject	Verb (Irregular)	Example Sentence
He	has	He has a car.
She	has	She has a dog.
It	has	It has a long tail.
He	does	He does his homework.
She	does	She does the dishes.
It	does	It does not matter.
He	goes	He goes to the gym.
She	goes	She goes to the library.
It	goes	It goes without saying.

Usage Rules

Understanding the rules for using verbs ending in ‘s’ is essential for avoiding grammatical errors. Here are some key rules to remember:

• Rule 1: Use the ‘s’ ending with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it) in the simple present tense.
• Rule 2: Do not use the ‘s’ ending with first-person singular (I), second-person singular/plural (you), or third-person plural (they) subjects.
• Rule 3: In negative sentences and questions, use “doesn’t” or “does” and the base form of the verb (without the ‘s’).
• Rule 4: Be aware of irregular verbs like “have,” “do,” and “go,” which have unique third-person singular forms (has, does, goes).

Exceptions

There are a few exceptions to the general rules. For example, in subjunctive mood constructions, the ‘s’ is not used, even with third-person singular subjects.

However, the subjunctive mood is relatively rare in modern English.

Another exception involves modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would). Modal verbs do not take the ‘s’ ending, regardless of the subject.

For example, “He can speak English” is correct, not “He cans speak English.”

Common Mistakes

ESL learners often make predictable mistakes when using verbs ending in ‘s’. Recognizing these errors can help you avoid them.

Mistake 1: Using the ‘s’ ending with first-person singular or plural subjects.

Incorrect: I works hard.

Correct: I work hard.

Mistake 2: Omitting the ‘s’ ending with third-person singular subjects.

Incorrect: She work here.

Correct: She works here.

Mistake 3: Using the ‘s’ ending in negative sentences or questions with “doesn’t” or “does.”

Incorrect: He doesn’t works here.

Correct: He doesn’t work here.

Mistake 4: Incorrectly conjugating irregular verbs.

Incorrect: She have a car.

Correct: She has a car.

Table 5: Common Mistakes and Corrections

This table summarizes the common mistakes and provides the correct alternatives to reinforce understanding.

Incorrect Sentence	Correct Sentence	Explanation
I works hard.	I work hard.	‘S’ ending is not used with first-person singular.
She work here.	She works here.	‘S’ ending is required with third-person singular.
He doesn’t works here.	He doesn’t work here.	‘S’ ending is not used after “doesn’t.”
She have a car.	She has a car.	“Have” is irregular; “has” is the correct form.
Does he likes coffee?	Does he like coffee?	‘S’ ending is not used in questions with “does.”
They goes to school.	They go to school.	‘S’ ending is not used with third-person plural.
It don’t matter.	It doesn’t matter.	“Doesn’t” is used with third-person singular.
You works too much.	You work too much.	‘S’ ending is not used with “you.”
He can speaks English.	He can speak English.	Modal verbs do not take the ‘s’ ending.
She must studies hard.	She must study hard.	Modal verbs do not take the ‘s’ ending.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with these practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb, ensuring you use the ‘s’ ending where appropriate.

Exercise 1: Simple Present Tense

Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

Table 6: Practice Exercise 1

Question	Answer
1. He _______ (eat) breakfast every morning.	eats
2. She _______ (read) a book before bed.	reads
3. It _______ (rain) a lot in the spring.	rains
4. They _______ (walk) to school together.	walk
5. I _______ (talk) to my friends every day.	talk
6. He _______ (write) emails for his job.	writes
7. She _______ (sing) in the shower.	sings
8. The sun _______ (shine) brightly.	shines
9. He _______ (play) the piano well.	plays
10. She _______ (cook) dinner for her family.	cooks

Exercise 2: Negative Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences in the negative form using “doesn’t.”

Table 7: Practice Exercise 2

Question	Answer
1. He likes coffee.	He doesn’t like coffee.
2. She works on Sundays.	She doesn’t work on Sundays.
3. It matters to me.	It doesn’t matter to me.
4. He eats meat.	He doesn’t eat meat.
5. She drinks alcohol.	She doesn’t drink alcohol.
6. It works properly.	It doesn’t work properly.
7. He plays sports.	He doesn’t play sports.
8. She knows the answer.	She doesn’t know the answer.
9. It makes sense.	It doesn’t make sense.
10. He understands the question.	He doesn’t understand the question.

Exercise 3: Interrogative Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences as questions using “Does.”

Table 8: Practice Exercise 3

Question	Answer
1. He likes coffee.	Does he like coffee?
2. She works here.	Does she work here?
3. It matters?	Does it matter?
4. He plays the guitar.	Does he play the guitar?
5. She speaks English.	Does she speak English?
6. It seem fair.	Does it seem fair?
7. He wants to come with us.	Does he want to come with us?
8. She needs help.	Does she need help?
9. It costs a lot of money.	Does it cost a lot of money?
10. He cares about the environment.	Does he care about the environment?

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, it’s helpful to understand more complex aspects of verb usage, such as the subjunctive mood and the use of verbs in dependent clauses.

The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, suggestions, or hypothetical situations. In these cases, the ‘s’ ending is not used, even with third-person singular subjects. For example, “I suggest that he be on time.”

In dependent clauses, the verb conjugation rules remain the same. If the subject of the dependent clause is third-person singular and the tense is simple present, the verb should still take the ‘s’ ending. For example, “I know that she works hard.”

FAQ

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

1. Why do verbs end in ‘s’ in some sentences but not others?

   Verbs end in ‘s’ in the simple present tense when the subject is third-person singular (he, she, it). This is due to subject-verb agreement, a fundamental rule in English grammar that ensures the verb form matches the subject performing the action.

2. What happens to the ‘s’ ending in negative sentences?

   In negative sentences, we use “doesn’t” (does not) before the base form of the verb. The ‘s’ ending is dropped from the verb. For example, “He doesn’t work here.”

3. What happens to the ‘s’ ending in questions?

   In questions, we start with “Does” followed by the subject (he, she, it) and the base form of the verb. The ‘s’ is not used on the verb. For example, “Does she work here?”

4. Are there any irregular verbs that I should be aware of?

   Yes, some common irregular verbs include “have” (which becomes “has” in the third-person singular), “do” (which becomes “does”), and “go” (which becomes “goes”). It’s important to memorize these irregular forms.

5. How can I practice using verbs ending in ‘s’?

   Practice by writing sentences about your daily routine, describing people you know, and completing exercises that focus on subject-verb agreement. Pay close attention to whether the subject is third-person singular.

6. What is the subjunctive mood, and how does it affect verb conjugation?

   The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, suggestions, or hypothetical situations. In the subjunctive mood, the ‘s’ ending is not used, even with third-person singular subjects. For example, “I suggest that he be on time.” The subjunctive is less common in modern English but is still important to recognize.

7. What should I do if I’m unsure whether to use the ‘s’ ending?

   If you’re unsure, try to identify the subject of the sentence and determine if it is third-person singular. If it is, the verb likely needs the ‘s’ ending. You can also use online grammar checkers or ask a native English speaker for feedback.

8. Do modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) take the ‘s’ ending?

   No, modal verbs do not take the ‘s’ ending, regardless of the subject. For example, “He can speak English” is correct, not “He cans speak English.” Modal verbs are always followed by the base form of the verb.

Conclusion

Mastering the use of verbs ending in ‘s’ is a fundamental step towards achieving fluency and accuracy in English. This grammatical feature, primarily used in the simple present tense with third-person singular subjects, requires careful attention to subject-verb agreement.

By understanding the rules, recognizing common mistakes, and practicing regularly, ESL learners can confidently construct grammatically correct sentences. Remember to pay attention to irregular verbs and exceptions, and don’t hesitate to seek feedback from native speakers or utilize online resources for further clarification.

Consistent practice and a keen awareness of these rules will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in English. Continue to review examples, complete exercises, and apply your knowledge in real-world conversations and writing.

With dedication and effort, you’ll find that using verbs ending in ‘s’ becomes second nature, allowing you to express yourself with greater precision and confidence.