Verb Conjugation: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Person Explained

Overview

Verb conjugation is the process of changing a verb so that it matches its subject. In English, the verb must agree with the person doing the action and whether that person is singular or plural. Every sentence uses conjugation, even when the speaker does not notice it.

English verbs do not change as much as verbs in many other languages. They change in one important place. Learn that place well and the rest of this lesson falls into position.

The Six Grammatical Persons

English divides its subjects into three persons, each with a singular and a plural form.

The first person refers to the speaker or a group that includes the speaker. The second person refers to the person being spoken to. The third person refers to everyone and everything else: other people, animals, objects, and ideas.

The second person pronoun you has the same form in both singular and plural. Whether addressing one person or a group, the pronoun and the verb form stay identical.

How Regular Verbs Are Conjugated

Present Tense Conjugation

For regular verbs in the present tense, the base form of the verb is used for five of the six persons. Only the third person singular takes a change: an s or es is added to the end of the verb.

Five persons share the base form. Only he, she, and it take the s ending.

Spelling Adjustments for the Third Person Singular

Most verbs simply add s, but a small group require a spelling change first.

Verbs ending in o, ch, sh, ss, x, or z add es rather than s.

Verbs ending in a consonant followed by y change the y to i before adding es.

Verbs ending in a vowel followed by y simply add s, with no spelling change.

Conjugating the Verb To Be

The verb to be is the most important verb in English and also the most irregular. It changes form for multiple persons, not just the third person singular. Memorize this table separately.

The contracted forms of to be are common in spoken English and informal writing.

Conjugating the Verb To Have

The verb to have follows the standard pattern for most persons but uses has for the third person singular.

Conjugating the Verb To Do

The verb to do follows the regular pattern for most persons and uses does for the third person singular.

When does is used as an auxiliary in questions or negatives, the main verb returns to its base form. This is covered in detail in the Simple Present Tense lesson.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Forgetting the S Ending for Third Person Singular

Leaving off the s when the subject is he, she, or it is the most common conjugation error at this level.

Mistake 2: Adding S to the Wrong Person

The s ending belongs only to the third person singular. Adding it to I, you, we, or they is wrong.

Mistake 3: Using Am, Is, or Are Incorrectly

Each form of to be belongs to a specific set of subjects. Mixing them up is one of the most visible errors in written English.

Mistake 4: Using Have Instead of Has for Third Person Singular

Has is required when the subject is he, she, or it. Using have with these subjects is wrong in the present tense.

Mistake 5: Keeping the S Ending After Does in Questions and Negatives

When does or doesn't is used as an auxiliary, the main verb returns to its base form. The s belongs to does, not to the main verb.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Form

Choose the correct verb form to complete each sentence.

1. My younger sister _______ (study / studies) architecture.
2. They _______ (has / have) a small apartment in the city.
3. The machine _______ (do / does) the calculation automatically.
4. _______ (Am / Is / Are) you ready for the presentation?
5. He _______ (go / goes) to the market every Saturday morning.
6. We _______ (is / are) happy with the results.
7. She _______ (have / has) a very calm personality.
8. It _______ (sound / sounds) like a good idea.

Exercise 2: Conjugate the Verb

Write the correct present tense form of the verb in brackets for each subject.

1. I _______ (carry) my lunch to work every day.
2. The river _______ (flow) through three provinces.
3. You _______ (need) to sign the form first.
4. He _______ (fix) old furniture as a hobby.
5. We _______ (enjoy) quiet evenings at home.
6. She _______ (teach) at a secondary school in the province.
7. The children _______ (play) outside every afternoon.
8. The company _______ (do) business in five countries.

Exercise 3: Correct the Error

Each sentence contains one conjugation error. Rewrite the sentence correctly.

1. She have a degree in engineering.
2. I works from home on Tuesdays.
3. Does he speaks any other language?
4. They is waiting outside the building.
5. He don't understand the instructions.

Summary

One rule covers most of what you need: add s or es when the subject is he, she, or it. Everything else uses the base form. Master that and you have the core of English present tense conjugation.