Singular and plural verbs
Learn when to add -s, -es or -ies to a verb in the present simple, with clear rules, examples and a full list of singular and plural verbs.
In this lesson
Singular and plural verbs are the two present simple forms of a verb. When the subject is singular and third person (he, she, it, or one person or thing), add -s or -es to the verb: She goes to school. When the subject is plural (we, they, or two or more people), use the base form: They go to school.
Key point
In the present simple, a singular subject takes a singular verb (He plays), and a plural subject takes a plural verb (They play). This is called subject and verb agreement.
What are singular and plural verbs?
In the present tense, the verb must agree with its subject. If the subject is a third-person singular noun or pronoun, the verb is also singular. If the subject is plural, the verb is plural. Look at these two sentences:
Examples
- She goes to school. The subject is she, a third-person singular subject, so the verb takes its singular form by adding -es.
- They go to school. The subject is they, a third-person plural subject, so the verb takes its plural form, which is the same as the base form.
This table shows which form to use with each subject pronoun:
| Subject | Verb form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| he, she, it | Singular: base form + -s or -es | He cooks. She teaches. It flies. |
| we, they | Plural: base form | We cook. They teach. |
| I, you | Base form | I cook. You teach. |
Note
I and you always use the base form, even when I means one person: I like tea. You speak English well.
How do you make the singular form of a verb?
The singular form is the base form with an ending. The ending depends on the last letters of the verb. These spelling rules are the same ones you use for the simple present tense.
Add -s to most verbs
Most verbs make their singular form by adding -s at the end.
| Base form | Singular (he, she, it) | Plural (we, they) |
|---|---|---|
| cook | cooks | cook |
| write | writes | write |
| drink | drinks | drink |
Add -es to verbs ending in -o, -ch, -sh, -ss or -x
Some verbs make their singular form by adding -es at the end. This happens when the verb ends in -o, -ch, -sh, -ss or -x, for example kiss, kisses; wash, washes; mix, mixes.
| Base form | Singular (he, she, it) | Plural (we, they) |
|---|---|---|
| do | does | do |
| go | goes | go |
| teach | teaches | teach |
Verbs ending in a vowel + y: add -s
If the verb ends in a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) before y, simply add -s.
| Base form | Singular (he, she, it) | Plural (we, they) |
|---|---|---|
| delay | delays | delay |
| pay | pays | pay |
| play | plays | play |
Verbs ending in a consonant + y: change y to -ies
If the verb ends in a consonant before y, remove the y and add -ies.
| Base form | Singular (he, she, it) | Plural (we, they) |
|---|---|---|
| cry | cries | cry |
| fly | flies | fly |
| try | tries | try |
Two special verbs: have and be
The verb have is irregular: he has, not he haves. The verb be has its own forms: I am, he is, they are. You can study them in our lesson on the verb “be”: am, is and are.
Common mistake
My brother play cricket. → My brother plays cricket.
My friends plays cricket. → My friends play cricket.
One person or thing takes the singular verb. Two or more take the plural verb.
How does it work with nouns?
The same rule works with nouns. A singular noun such as the boy or my mother is like he or she. A plural noun such as the boys or my parents is like they.
Examples
- The boy plays football. / The boys play football.
- My mother cooks rice. / My parents cook rice.
- The bird flies. / The birds fly.
- The teacher teaches English. / The teachers teach English.
Tip
In many simple sentences, the -s appears only once: on the plural noun or on the singular verb. The boy plays (the -s is on the verb). The boys play (the -s is on the noun).
What happens in negatives and questions?
In negatives and questions, the helping verb do changes instead. Use does or doesn’t with a singular subject and do or don’t with a plural subject. The main verb goes back to its base form.
Examples
- She doesn’t drink coffee. / They don’t drink coffee.
- Does he write letters? / Do they write letters?
Common mistake
Does she likes music? → Does she like music?
The -s is already in does, so the main verb stays in the base form.
List of singular and plural verbs
Study the following chart to learn more singular and plural verbs. Notice the spelling rules from above, such as dry, dries and push, pushes. The past forms of many of these verbs are in our lesson on regular and irregular verbs.
| Base form | Singular (he, she, it) | Plural (we, they) |
|---|---|---|
| act | acts | act |
| accept | accepts | accept |
| add | adds | add |
| admire | admires | admire |
| admit | admits | admit |
| advise | advises | advise |
| agree | agrees | agree |
| announce | announces | announce |
| answer | answers | answer |
| attend | attends | attend |
| avoid | avoids | avoid |
| bake | bakes | bake |
| blind | blinds | blind |
| calculate | calculates | calculate |
| call | calls | call |
| cause | causes | cause |
| challenge | challenges | challenge |
| change | changes | change |
| collect | collects | collect |
| cure | cures | cure |
| damage | damages | damage |
| delay | delays | delay |
| deliver | delivers | deliver |
| develop | develops | develop |
| discover | discovers | discover |
| dry | dries | dry |
| earn | earns | earn |
| empty | empties | empty |
| end | ends | end |
| enjoy | enjoys | enjoy |
| escape | escapes | escape |
| examine | examines | examine |
| exist | exists | exist |
| explain | explains | explain |
| face | faces | face |
| file | files | file |
| flood | floods | flood |
| force | forces | force |
| fry | fries | fry |
| gather | gathers | gather |
| grab | grabs | grab |
| guide | guides | guide |
| hand | hands | hand |
| happen | happens | happen |
| hug | hugs | hug |
| hunt | hunts | hunt |
| identify | identifies | identify |
| impress | impresses | impress |
| include | includes | include |
| intend | intends | intend |
| invite | invites | invite |
| join | joins | join |
| joke | jokes | joke |
| jump | jumps | jump |
| kill | kills | kill |
| kiss | kisses | kiss |
| laugh | laughs | laugh |
| learn | learns | learn |
| lie | lies | lie |
| like | likes | like |
| love | loves | love |
| manage | manages | manage |
| melt | melts | melt |
| mix | mixes | mix |
| mourn | mourns | mourn |
| move | moves | move |
| name | names | name |
| note | notes | note |
| notice | notices | notice |
| occur | occurs | occur |
| offer | offers | offer |
| order | orders | order |
| paint | paints | paint |
| phone | phones | phone |
| play | plays | play |
| pretend | pretends | pretend |
| protect | protects | protect |
| pull | pulls | pull |
| push | pushes | push |
| reach | reaches | reach |
| realise | realises | realise |
| record | records | record |
| reject | rejects | reject |
| refuse | refuses | refuse |
| relax | relaxes | relax |
| remain | remains | remain |
| remind | reminds | remind |
| remove | removes | remove |
| scare | scares | scare |
| spoil | spoils | spoil |
| stop | stops | stop |
| suffer | suffers | suffer |
| suggest | suggests | suggest |
| suspect | suspects | suspect |
| talk | talks | talk |
| trap | traps | trap |
| trust | trusts | trust |
| try | tries | try |
| want | wants | want |
| wash | washes | wash |
| waste | wastes | waste |
| wonder | wonders | wonder |
| wrap | wraps | wrap |
| yawn | yawns | yawn |
| zoom | zooms | zoom |
To learn more about how subjects and verbs work together in longer sentences, read the Cambridge Dictionary guide to subject and verb agreement.
Summary
- In the present simple, the verb must agree with its subject.
- With he, she, it or one person or thing, add -s or -es: She goes.
- With we, they or two or more people, use the base form: They go.
- I and you also use the base form.
- After does or doesn’t, use the base form: Does he play?
Frequently asked questions
Why do we add -s to the verb after he, she and it?
It is the rule for the present simple in English. The -s shows that the subject is one person or thing in the third person. Other subjects use the base form.
Is “I” singular or plural?
I is singular, but it uses the base form of the verb: I play, not I plays. Only third-person singular subjects take the -s ending.
When do I add -es instead of -s?
Add -es when the verb ends in -o, -ch, -sh, -ss or -x, as in goes, teaches, washes, kisses and mixes. Most other verbs just add -s.
Does this rule work in the past tense?
No. In the past simple, the verb is the same for all subjects: She played and They played. The only exception is be: was and were.
