Present Simple Tense: Third Person Singular Verbs & Spelling in English Grammar

Present Simple Tense in English Grammar: Third Person Singular Verbs and Spelling Rules

The present simple tense in English, often referred to as the base form, is a crucial and common verb tense used to describe facts, routine actions, or general truths. In this tutorial, we'll explore the third person singular verb form and some specific spelling rules for using this tense in English.

Third Person Singular Verbs

In the present simple tense, third person singular verbs (subjects that refer to a single person, thing, or idea) are conjugated in their base form without any additional affixes. For example:

• I read => I read books
• He reads => He reads books

In the third person singular form, "he" and other pronouns or nouns signifying a single subject will be conjugated in the present simple tense with the base form of the verb, as seen in the above examples.

Spelling Rules for Third Person Singular Verbs

While most English verbs follow a straightforward spelling rule in the third person singular form for the present simple tense, there are a few exceptions and patterns to be aware of:

1. Verbs ending in -e: Verbs that end in -e before the third person singular present simple tense, change the -e to -s. For example:

   • eat => eats
   • love => loves

2. Verbs ending in consonant + y: Verbs that end in consonant + y before the third person singular present simple tense, change the y to i + es. For example:

   • play => plays
   • copy => copies

3. Verbs ending in a vowel + y: Verbs that end in a vowel + y before the third person singular present simple tense, simply add -s. For example:

   • cry => cries
   • fly => flies

4. Irrregular verbs: Certain verbs do not follow the typical spelling patterns and must be memorized. For example:

   • drink => drinks
   • be => am, is, are

These spelling rules for third person singular verbs in the present simple tense can be summarized in the table below:

Putting It All Together

To summarize, the third person singular present simple tense is used to describe actions that happen regularly or are true in the present. The basic form of a verb is used without any additional suffixes for third person singular verbs. Keep in mind the spelling rules for certain verb types, including those ending in -e, consonant + y, a vowel + y, or are simply irregular. By following these rules, you'll be well on your way to mastering the present simple tense in English grammar.