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English verbs have five basic
forms: the base form, the - S
form,
the - ing
form, the past
form, and the
past participle form.
The - S form
is used in several verb tenses when the subject of
a
verb is he, she, or
it
and the verb is not
be. For most verbs,
the
- S form adds -s or- es; for some verbs ending
in - y,
the y
changes to i before - es is added.
The verbs be and have are
different. For be, the - S form is is
and for have, the - S form
is
has.
Here are some of the most common uses
of
the - S form:
| 1. |
|
Use the - S form in simple present tense
sentences
when the
verb is not be
and when the
subject of verb
is (or means) he,
she, or it:
He comes
from Mauritania.
She looks
like her mother.
It seems
cooler today.
That man needs
some help.
Bob's mother has red
hair.
My car
needs
gas.
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| 2. |
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Also use the - S form in simple present tense
when
an auxiliary
verb is needed for questions
or negatives
and the subject is he,
she, or it:
He doesn't come from Senegal.
She doesn't look like her father.
It doesn't seem very hot
today.
That
man doesn't need any help.
Bob doesn't have red hair.
My car doesn't need gas.
_______________________________
Does
he come from Senegal or
Mauritania?
Does
she look like her father
or her mother?
Does
it seem
cooler
today?
Does
that man need some
help?
Does
Bob have red hair?
Does
your car need gas?
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| 3. |
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Use the S form in present perfect tense
(affirmative
and
negative statements and questions)
when the
subject
of the verb is (or means)
he,
she, or
it:
Has he eaten?
Yes, he
has already
eaten.
No, he hasn't eaten yet.
Has she lived here for a long time?
No,
she hasn't lived here very long.
Yes,
she's lived here for about 15 years.
Has the weather been nice lately?
No,
it hasn't been very pleasant. It's been
too hot.
Yes, it's been quite
comfortable.
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Important:
Do not forget
to add - S in the situations
described above!
Native speakers always notice when
an - s is
missing! |
__________________________________________
Special Notes:
| 1. |
|
Don't
confuse verb + - S
with is
+ verb. These are
completely
different:
|
wrong:
right:
|
|
*That man is need some help.
That man needs some help.
|
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|
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wrong:
right:
|
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*Bob's mother is have red hair.
Bob's mother has red hair.
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wrong:
right:
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*My car is need gas.
My car needs gas.
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| 2. |
|
When the auxiliary does is
used, the verb after it is the
base
form,
not the - S form:
|
wrong:
right:
|
|
*Does that man needs some help?
*That man doesn't needs any help.
Does that man need some help?
That
man doesn't need any
help.
|
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|
|
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wrong:
right:
|
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*Does Bob's mother has black hair?
*Bob's mother doesn't has black hair.
Does Bob's mother have black hair?
Bob's mother doesn't have black hair.
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wrong:
right:
|
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*Does your car needs gas?
*My
car doesn't needs gas.
Does your car need gas?
My
car doesn't need gas.
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| 3. |
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The contraction 's means
both is
and has. To know
which is intended, look
at the words after 's:
He's here. ('s =
is)
He's been here. ('s =
has)
Se's sad. ('s =
is)
She's feeling sad. ('s =
is)
She's seemed sad today. ('s =
has)
It's rainy. ('s =
is)
It's been raining. ('s =
has)
It's raining. ('s =
is)
It's rained a lot this week. ('s
= has)
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Next:
spelling - S
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