Ending -s/-es
English learners often find it tricky to know when to add ‑s or ‑es to verbs. This rule only applies in the Present Simple tense and only when the subject is third person singular (he, she, it, or singular nouns). Let’s break down the rules step by step.
How to form
Rule 1: Just add ‑s
For most verbs, simply add ‑s when the subject is third person singular. This is the most common and straightforward rule.
- work → works — He works in an office.
- play → plays — My dog plays in the garden.
- run → runs — The athlete runs every day.
Rule 2: Verbs ending in ‑ss, ‑ch, ‑sh, ‑x, ‑o, ‑z
You add ‑es to make the word easier to pronounce. Try saying "watchs" – it's awkward! "watches" is much smoother.
- pass → passes — He passes the ball.
- teach → teaches — My father teaches math.
- wash → washes — She washes the dishes.
- fix → fixes — The mechanic fixes the car.
- echo → echoes — The sound echoes in the cave.
- buzz → buzzes — It buzzes loudly.
Rule 3: Verbs ending in consonant + ‑y
If the verb ends with a consonant + ‑y, change the ‑y to an ‑i and then add ‑es.
- try → tries — He tries very hard.
- study → studies — She studies French at university.
Rule 4: The verb 'have'
This verb doesn't follow the standard rules. Instead of adding ‑s or ‑es to the base form, 'have' changes to 'has' for third‑person singular subjects.
- She has a cat.
- It has a long tail.
