Verb Present Form
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How to Form S-form of Verbs
The present form of all verbs, including that of irregular verbs is directly derived from the base form of verbs. This is true of all verbs, with the sole exception of the verb be.
The difference between the present form and base form is that the third-person singular present form adds –s or –es to the base form of the verb; all other present forms take identical pattern with the base form.
The base form of be is different from all of its present tense forms. Examine the chat below:
| Number | 1st Person | 2nd Person | 3rd Person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | I am | you are | he/she/it is |
| Plural | we are | you are | they are |
The third-person singular present endings are fairly predictable both in pronunciation and in spelling.
If the base form ends in a sibilant sound (s, z, x, sh, ch, tch, or j [as in judge]), the ending is pronounced as a separate syllable and rhymes with buzz.
The ending is spelled -es, unless the base form already ends in -e, in which case only -s is added:
| Base Form | 3rd Person Singular Present |
|---|---|
| lose | loses |
| freeze | freezes |
| beseech | beseeches |
| catch | catches |
Note that if the base form ends in a silent consonant sound other than a sibilant, the ending is pronounced /s/ and is spelled -es.
The voiceless consonants are usually spelled with a p, t, ck, k, f, or gh (when pronounced /f/):
| Base Form | 3rd Person Singular Present |
|---|---|
| keep | keeps |
| beat | beats |
| seek | seeks |
| take | takes |
In cases where the base form ends in a pronounced consonantOpens in new window other than a sibilantOpens in new window or in a pronounced vowelOpens in new window (as opposed to a silent final -e), the ending is pronounced /z/ and is spelled -s :
| Base Form | 3rd Person Singular Present |
|---|---|
| forbid | forbids |
| bend | bends |
| dig | digs |
| feel | feels |
| swim | swims |
| mean | means |
| prove | proves |
| pay | pays |
| flee | flees |
| fly | flies |
| throw | throws |
| strew | strews |
| Note that if the base form ends in -y without a preceding vowel, the -y alters to -ie before the -s ending (as in fly above). | |
A few verbs have peculiar third-person singular present forms:
| be | is |
| have | has |
Two verbs, particularly “do,” and “say”, have irregular pronunciations in the third-person singular present form:
| do | does (rhymes with buzz) |
| say | says (rhymes with fez) |
