Mastering Present Tense Verbs: A Drill with ‘S’ Endings

Understanding the present tense, particularly the correct usage of ‘s’ endings, is fundamental to constructing grammatically sound sentences in English. This article provides a comprehensive guide to mastering this essential aspect of English grammar.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this drill will help you solidify your understanding and improve your fluency.

This article is designed for English language learners of all levels, teachers seeking a structured lesson plan, and anyone looking to refine their grasp of present tense verb conjugation. By focusing on the ‘s’ ending, we’ll tackle a common source of errors and build a solid foundation for more complex grammatical structures.

Table of Contents

Definition of Present Tense Verbs with ‘S’ Endings

The present tense is a verb tense used to describe actions that are happening now, actions that happen habitually, or states of being. When the subject of a sentence is a third-person singular pronoun (he, she, it) or a singular noun, the verb typically takes an ‘s’ or ‘es’ ending.

This grammatical rule is crucial for ensuring subject-verb agreement, a cornerstone of English sentence construction.

The addition of ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the base form of the verb indicates that the action is performed by a single entity that is not the speaker or the person being spoken to. The present tense also describes general truths and fixed arrangements (like schedules).

This versatile tense is essential for everyday communication and formal writing.

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure involves identifying the subject and then conjugating the verb accordingly. For third-person singular subjects (he, she, it, or a singular noun), the verb typically takes an ‘s’ or ‘es’ ending.

For all other subjects (I, you, we, they, or plural nouns), the verb remains in its base form.

Here’s a breakdown:

  • I/You/We/They + Verb (base form): I eat, you run, we sing, they dance.
  • He/She/It + Verb + s/es: He eats, she runs, it sings, the dog dances.

The ‘es’ ending is typically added to verbs that end in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -o. For example, he watches, she kisses, it goes. Verbs ending in a consonant followed by ‘y’ usually change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es.’ For example, he studies, she cries.

Types and Categories

Regular Verbs

Most verbs follow a simple rule: add ‘s’ to the base form. These are considered regular verbs. Examples include walks, talks, plays, writes, etc. These are the most common and easiest to master.

Verbs Ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o

These verbs require the addition of ‘es’ instead of just ‘s’. This is done to maintain pronunciation and avoid awkward sounds. Examples include passes, washes, watches, fixes, goes.

Verbs Ending in Consonant + y

When a verb ends in a consonant followed by ‘y’, the ‘y’ is changed to ‘i’ and ‘es’ is added. Examples include studies, cries, tries, flies. Note that if the verb ends in a vowel + y, you simply add ‘s’ (e.g., plays).

Irregular Verbs

The verb ‘to have’ is irregular. The third-person singular form is ‘has,’ not ‘haves.’ The verb ‘to be’ also has irregular forms in the present tense (is, are, am).

Understanding these irregularities is crucial for accurate sentence construction.

Examples of Present Tense Verbs with ‘S’ Endings

The following tables provide extensive examples of present tense verbs with ‘s’ endings, categorized for clarity.

Table 1: Regular Verbs

This table illustrates the application of the ‘s’ ending to regular verbs in the present tense. Note the consistent pattern across different verbs.

Subject Verb (Base Form) Verb (with ‘s’) Example Sentence
I Walk I walk to school every day.
You Walk You walk very fast.
He Walk Walks He walks to school every day.
She Walk Walks She walks very fast.
It Walk Walks The dog walks in the park.
We Walk We walk together.
They Walk They walk slowly.
I Eat I eat breakfast at 7 AM.
You Eat You eat a lot of fruit.
He Eat Eats He eats breakfast every morning.
She Eat Eats She eats healthy food.
It Eat Eats The cat eats its food.
We Eat We eat dinner together.
They Eat They eat at a restaurant.
I Play I play the guitar.
You Play You play soccer.
He Play Plays He plays the piano.
She Play Plays She plays tennis very well.
It Play Plays The puppy plays with the ball.
We Play We play video games.
They Play They play in the park.
I Write I write emails every day.
You Write You write beautiful poems.
He Write Writes He writes novels.
She Write Writes She writes articles for a magazine.
It Write Writes The author writes bestsellers.
We Write We write reports at work.
They Write They write letters to their friends.

Table 2: Verbs Ending in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o

This table demonstrates the ‘es’ ending added to verbs ending in specific letters. Pay attention to the pronunciation changes that often accompany these additions.

Subject Verb (Base Form) Verb (with ‘es’) Example Sentence
I Pass I pass the ball.
You Pass You pass the test.
He Pass Passes He passes the exam easily.
She Pass Passes She passes by the store every day.
It Pass Passes Time passes quickly.
We Pass We pass the salt.
They Pass They pass through the gate.
I Wash I wash the dishes.
You Wash You wash your car.
He Wash Washes He washes his hands thoroughly.
She Wash Washes She washes her hair every other day.
It Wash Washes The rain washes the streets.
We Wash We wash the clothes.
They Wash They wash their faces in the morning.
I Watch I watch TV.
You Watch You watch movies.
He Watch Watches He watches the news every evening.
She Watch Watches She watches birds in the garden.
It Watch Watches The security camera watches the entrance.
We Watch We watch sports games.
They Watch They watch the sunset.
I Fix I fix computers.
You Fix You fix cars.
He Fix Fixes He fixes the broken chair.
She Fix Fixes She fixes the leaky faucet.
It Fix Fixes The mechanic fixes the engine.
We Fix We fix the problem together.
They Fix They fix the old house.
I Go I go to the store.
You Go You go to the gym.
He Go Goes He goes to work early.
She Go Goes She goes to school by bus.
It Go Goes The alarm goes off at 6 AM.
We Go We go on vacation.
They Go They go to parties.

Table 3: Verbs Ending in Consonant + y

This table illustrates the rule of changing ‘y’ to ‘i’ and adding ‘es’ when the verb ends in a consonant followed by ‘y’. Observe how the spelling changes affect the verb form.

Subject Verb (Base Form) Verb (with ‘ies’) Example Sentence
I Study I study English.
You Study You study hard.
He Study Studies He studies mathematics.
She Study Studies She studies biology.
It Study Studies The university studies climate change.
We Study We study together.
They Study They study different subjects.
I Cry I cry during sad movies.
You Cry You cry when you are hurt.
He Cry Cries He cries easily.
She Cry Cries She cries when she is sad.
It Cry Cries The baby cries for milk.
We Cry We cry at funerals.
They Cry They cry when they are overwhelmed.
I Try I try my best.
You Try You try new things.
He Try Tries He tries to learn new languages.
She Try Tries She tries to bake a cake.
It Try Tries The machine tries to start.
We Try We try to solve the problem.
They Try They try to improve their skills.
I Fly I fly to New York.
You Fly You fly a kite.
He Fly Flies He flies an airplane.
She Fly Flies She flies back home.
It Fly Flies The bird flies south for the winter.
We Fly We fly together to Paris.
They Fly They fly drones as a hobby.

Table 4: Irregular Verbs (to have)

This table focuses on the irregular verb “to have” and its unique third-person singular form, “has.” Mastering this exception is essential for accurate grammar.

Subject Verb (Base Form) Verb (Irregular Form) Example Sentence
I Have I have a car.
You Have You have a bicycle.
He Have Has He has a dog.
She Have Has She has a cat.
It Have Has The company has a new policy.
We Have We have a meeting.
They Have They have a party.

Table 5: Examples of the verb “to be”

The verb “to be” is highly irregular and has three different forms in the present tense: “am,” “is,” and “are.” This table provides examples of each form.

Subject Verb (Base Form) Verb (Present Tense Form) Example Sentence
I Be Am I am a student.
You Be Are You are a teacher.
He Be Is He is a doctor.
She Be Is She is a nurse.
It Be Is It is a beautiful day.
We Be Are We are friends.
They Be Are They are family.

Usage Rules

The most important rule is subject-verb agreement. The verb must agree in number with its subject. If the subject is singular and third-person (he, she, it), the verb takes an ‘s’ or ‘es’ ending. Otherwise, the verb remains in its base form.

Exceptions: Modal verbs (can, should, must, etc.) never take an ‘s’ ending, regardless of the subject. For example, He can swim, she should study.

Special Cases: Collective nouns (team, family, committee) can be treated as singular or plural depending on the context. If the group is acting as a single unit, use a singular verb. If the emphasis is on the individual members, use a plural verb. For example, The team plays well together (singular) vs. The team are arguing about the strategy (plural).

When using indefinite pronouns such as everyone, someone, nobody, each, either, or neither, use a singular verb form. It is important to remember that these pronouns always take a singular verb, even though they might seem plural in meaning.

For example, “Everyone likes pizza.”

Common Mistakes

One of the most common mistakes is forgetting to add the ‘s’ ending to third-person singular verbs. For example, saying “He eat” instead of “He eats.” Another common error is adding ‘s’ to verbs with plural subjects.

For example, saying “They eats” instead of “They eat.”

Mixing up “has” and “have” is another frequent mistake. Remember that “has” is only used with third-person singular subjects.

Finally, incorrectly applying the ‘es’ rule (e.g., adding ‘es’ to all verbs ending in ‘s’ regardless of the preceding letter) is another source of error.

Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect Correct Explanation
He eat pizza. He eats pizza. Missing ‘s’ ending on the verb.
They eats pizza. They eat pizza. Incorrect ‘s’ ending on the verb.
She have a car. She has a car. Incorrect use of “have” instead of “has”.
He studyes English. He studies English. Incorrect application of the ‘es’ rule (should be ‘ies’).
Everyone like the show. Everyone likes the show. Missing ‘s’ ending on the verb after the singular indefinite pronoun “everyone.”

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

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

  1. He ______ (watch) TV every evening.
  2. She ______ (go) to school by bus.
  3. It ______ (rain) a lot in the spring.
  4. They ______ (play) soccer on weekends.
  5. I ______ (eat) breakfast every morning.
  6. You ______ (study) English.
  7. We ______ (live) in New York.
  8. The dog ______ (bark) at strangers.
  9. The sun ______ (shine) brightly.
  10. She ______ (write) novels.

Answer Key:

  1. watches
  2. goes
  3. rains
  4. play
  5. eat
  6. study
  7. live
  8. barks
  9. shines
  10. writes

Exercise 2: Correct the Sentences

Correct the following sentences that have errors in verb conjugation.

  1. She eat apples.
  2. He have a bike.
  3. They goes to the park.
  4. It studyes hard.
  5. We watches movies.
  6. The cat bark at the mailman.
  7. He can swims well.
  8. I has a dream.
  9. You plays guitar.
  10. Everyone need to study.

Answer Key:

  1. She eats apples.
  2. He has a bike.
  3. They go to the park.
  4. It studies hard.
  5. We watch movies.
  6. The cat barks at the mailman.
  7. He can swim well.
  8. I have a dream.
  9. You play guitar.
  10. Everyone needs to study.

Exercise 3: Sentence Completion

Complete each sentence using the present tense form of the verb provided. Ensure the verb agrees with the subject.

  1. The bird ______ (sing) in the morning.
  2. My sister ______ (work) at a hospital.
  3. The computer ______ (need) an update.
  4. Children ______ (love) to play.
  5. Our team ______ (win) most of the games.
  6. He ______ (teach) English at the local school.
  7. She ______ (carry) heavy bags every day.
  8. The train ______ (arrive) on time.
  9. I ______ (believe) in you.
  10. They ______ (understand) the lesson.

Answer Key:

  1. sings
  2. works
  3. needs
  4. love
  5. wins
  6. teaches
  7. carries
  8. arrives
  9. believe
  10. understand

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice

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

  1. He ______ (a) go (b) goes to the gym every day.
  2. She ______ (a) has (b) have a new car.
  3. They ______ (a) plays (b) play basketball on Sundays.
  4. It ______ (a) rains (b) rain a lot in April.
  5. I ______ (a) likes (b) like to read books.
  6. You ______ (a) studies (b) study very diligently.
  7. We ______ (a) watches (b) watch movies on Friday nights.
  8. The dog ______ (a) barks (b) bark at strangers.
  9. The sun ______ (a) shines (b) shine brightly.
  10. Everyone ______ (a) need (b) needs to eat healthy.

Answer Key:

  1. b
  2. a
  3. b
  4. a
  5. b
  6. b
  7. b
  8. a
  9. a
  10. b

Advanced Topics

Stative Verbs: Some verbs, known as stative verbs, describe states rather than actions and are not typically used in the continuous tenses. Examples include know, believe, understand, like, hate, etc. While they follow the same subject-verb agreement rules, they are less commonly seen with progressive tenses.

Present Simple for Future Arrangements: The present simple can be used to talk about scheduled events in the future, such as train timetables or movie schedules. For example, The train leaves at 6 PM. This usage requires careful attention to context to avoid confusion with actions happening now.

Subjunctive Mood: While less common in modern English, the subjunctive mood can affect verb forms. In certain constructions (especially after verbs like suggest, demand, recommend), the base form of the verb is used regardless of the subject. For example, I suggest that he study harder.

FAQ

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

    We add ‘s’ (or ‘es’) to verbs in the present tense when the subject is a third-person singular noun or pronoun (he, she, it). This is to maintain subject-verb agreement, a fundamental rule in English grammar that ensures the verb form matches the subject’s number.

  2. What if the subject is a plural noun?

    If the subject is a plural noun or pronoun (we, you, they), the verb remains in its base form without any ‘s’ or ‘es’ ending. For example, “They play soccer,” not “They plays soccer.”

  3. Are there any exceptions to this rule?

    Yes, modal verbs (can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must) never take an ‘s’ ending, regardless of the subject. Also, the verb “to have” is irregular, with “has” being the third-person singular form.

  4. When do I add ‘es’ instead of ‘s’?

    You typically add ‘es’ to verbs that end in -s, -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, or -o. This is done to improve pronunciation and avoid awkward sounds. For example, “He watches,” “She kisses,” “It goes.”

  5. What happens if a verb ends in a consonant followed by ‘y’?

    If a verb ends in a consonant followed by ‘y’, you usually change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es.’ For example, “study” becomes “studies,” and “cry” becomes “cries.” However, if it ends in a vowel followed by ‘y’, you just add ‘s’ (e.g., “play” becomes “plays”).

  6. How do I handle collective nouns?

    Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, committee) can be tricky. If the group is acting as a single unit, use a singular verb. If the emphasis is on the individual members, use a plural verb. Context is key. For example, “The team plays well” (singular) vs. “The team are arguing” (plural).

  7. What are stative verbs and how do they affect this rule?

    Stative verbs describe states rather than actions and are not typically used in continuous tenses. They still follow the subject-verb agreement rule, taking an ‘s’ ending with third-person singular subjects. Examples include “know,” “believe,” and “understand.”

  8. What about indefinite pronouns like ‘everyone’ or ‘someone’?

    Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, someone, nobody, each, either, or neither ALWAYS take singular verbs. Even though words like “everyone” might seem plural, they are treated as singular in grammatical terms. For example: “Everyone likes ice cream.”

Conclusion

Mastering the present tense and the correct usage of ‘s’ endings is crucial for clear and accurate communication in English. This article has provided a detailed explanation of the rules, exceptions, and common mistakes associated with this fundamental grammar point.

Consistent practice and attention to detail are key to achieving fluency.

By reviewing the examples, practicing the exercises, and understanding the underlying principles, you can confidently use present tense verbs with ‘s’ endings in your writing and speaking. Remember to focus on subject-verb agreement and to be aware of irregular verbs and special cases.

With dedication, you can master this essential aspect of English grammar and elevate your overall language proficiency.

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