The Present Simple Tense: Verb Forms

Grammar - The Present Simple Tense: Verbs

For I, You, We and They, we use the infinitive form of the verb.

For He, She and It (3rd person singular), we usually add -s to the infinitive.

• I/You/We/They + INFINITIVE
• I play football.
• He/She/It + INFINITIVE-s
• He plays football.

Grammar - He/She/It: Infinitives Ending in CONSONANT-y

We change -y to -ies for words ending in consonant-y.

• INFINITIVE → INFINITIVE (- y) + -ies
• study → studies
• She studies chemistry.

Grammar - He/She/It: Infinitives Ending in VOWEL-y

We do not change -y to -ies for words ending in vowel-y.

• VOWEL = a/e/i/o/u
• INFINITIVE → INFINITIVE-s
• play → plaies ✘
• play → plays ✔
• enjoy → enjoies ✘
• enjoy → enjoys ✔

Grammar - He/She/It: Infinitives Ending in -ss/-sh/-ch/-o/-x

We add -es to infinitives ending -ss, -sh, -ch, -o and -x.

• INFINITIVE → INFINITIVE-es
• watch → watches
• He watches TV every day.

Grammar - He/She/It: HAVE

We change have to has.

• HAVE → has
• She has a brother.