1. The General Rule
For most verbs in English, we simply add -s to the base form.
Note
This includes verbs ending in -e (like love or hate). Just add s.
Standard Verbs
+ s
work
works
eat
eats
live
lives
read
reads
write
writes
sit
sits
sleep
sleeps
drink
drinks
love
loves
2. The "Hissing" Sounds
If a verb ends in a sound like shhh, chhh, sss, or zz, we cannot just add 's' because it's too hard to say.
Pronunciation Tip
We pronounce the -es ending as an extra syllable: /ɪz/.
wash-es, mix-es
wash-es, mix-es
Ends in -ss, -sh, -ch, -x, -o
+ es
-SS
like snake sounds
miss misses
kiss kisses
pass passes
-SH
like "quiet"
wash washes
push pushes
finish finishes
-CH
like "chips"
watch watches
teach teaches
catch catches
-X & -O
fix fixes
mix mixes
go goes
3. The Tricky "Y"
Look at the letter before the Y. It changes everything.
Consonants: b, c, d, f, g, l, r, s, t...
Vowels: a, e, i, o, u
A
Consonant + y
Cut the y and add -ies.
study
studies
studies
fly
flies
flies
try
tries
tries
cry
cries
cries
worry
worries
worries
marry
marries
marries
B
Vowel + y
Do NOT change the y. Just add -s.
play plays
enjoy enjoys
buy buys
say says
stay stays
destroy destroys
Never write: plaies, enjoies
The Irregulars
Have
Has
Be
Is
Do
Does
Go
Goes
Common Mistakes
studys
studies
havs
has
gos
goes
watchs
watches
Spelling Challenge
Type the correct 3rd person singular form (he/she/it).
study
Correct!
Press 'Enter' to check
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