Present Simple: 3rd person (he/she/it)
The -s / -es ending.
When we talk about what one person or thing does in general or as a routine, we use the Present Simple. For he, she, or it, we must add -s or -es to the base verb. Most verbs just take -s: plays, reads, lives. Verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, or -o take -es: watches, washes, goes. Verbs ending in a consonant + y drop the y and add -ies: study → studies, carry → carries. For negatives, use doesn't (= does not) followed by the BASE verb — never add -s after doesn't: she doesn't play (NOT she doesn't plays). For yes/no questions, put Does at the start: Does he read books? The short answers are Yes, he does or No, he doesn't. A very common mistake is forgetting the -s on the verb (he go) or keeping -s after doesn't (she doesn't goes). For example: Tom watches TV every evening, but he doesn't watch it in the morning.
Key terms
| Verb ending | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| most verbs | add -s | play → plays, read → reads, sleep → sleeps |
| -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, -o | add -es | watch → watches, wash → washes, go → goes |
| consonant + y | drop y, add -ies | study → studies, carry → carries, fly → flies |
| vowel + y | add -s only | play → plays, enjoy → enjoys |
| irregular | special form | have → has |
Check the verb's last letter(s) to choose the right ending for he, she, or it.
| Form | Subject | Verb form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | I / you / we / they | base form | They play football. |
| Affirmative | he / she / it | base form + -s/-es/-ies | He plays football. |
| Negative | I / you / we / they | don't + base form | They don't play football. |
| Negative | he / she / it | doesn't + base form | He doesn't play football. |
| Question | I / you / we / they | Do + base form | Do they play football? |
| Question | he / she / it | Does + base form | Does he play football? |
The key: always use the BASE verb after doesn't and after Does.
| Question | Positive short answer | Negative short answer |
|---|---|---|
| Does he read? | Yes, he does. | No, he doesn't. |
| Does she watch TV? | Yes, she does. | No, she doesn't. |
| Does it sleep a lot? | Yes, it does. | No, it doesn't. |
Short answers only use the auxiliary does / doesn't — do NOT repeat the main verb.
- 1Step 1: find the subject: Is the subject he, she, or it? → Yes: she (my sister).
- 2Step 2: look at the verb ending: The verb is watch. It ends in -ch → we must add -es.
- 3Step 3: write the sentence: My sister watches TV every evening. ✓
- 1Start: Affirmative: He goes to the park on Sundays.
- 2Negative: Add doesn't + BASE verb: He doesn't go to the park on Sundays. (NOT doesn't goes)
- 3Question: Move Does to the front + BASE verb: Does he go to the park on Sundays? (NOT Does he goes)
- 4Short answers: Yes, he does. / No, he doesn't. (do NOT add the main verb)
Never add -s after doesn't. 'She doesn't likes cats' and 'He doesn't goes' are WRONG. After doesn't, always use the base form: she doesn't like, he doesn't go.
Don't use 'don't' for he, she, or it. 'She don't eat meat' is WRONG. Use doesn't: She doesn't eat meat.
For verbs ending in consonant + y, you must drop y and add -ies. 'She studys' and 'He carrys' are WRONG. Write: she studies, he carries.
After Does in a question, use the BASE verb — not the -s form. 'Does she listens?' is WRONG. Write: Does she listen? (Does already carries the 3rd-person meaning.)
The verb 'have' is irregular: he has (NOT haves). This is the only common irregular 3rd-person form at this level.
Rules
- 1Add -s to most verbs for he/she/it: play → plays, read → reads.
- 2Add -es after -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, -o: watch → watches, go → goes.
- 3Consonant + y → drop y, add -ies: study → studies, fly → flies.
- 4Negative: use doesn't + base verb (no -s): she doesn't play.
- 5Question: Does he/she/it + base verb…? Short answer: Yes, he does / No, he doesn't.
Practice
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