The Third Person Singular Number Definition, Lists, and Examples

Ever wondered why we say “he runs” instead of “he run”? The third person singular number is like that special rule in English that adds an ‘s’ or ‘es’ to verbs when talking about someone or something else in the present tense. Think of it as giving certain words a little extra flair when describing what one person, animal, or thing does. Let’s explore this fundamental grammar concept that, while simple in theory, often trips up even native English speakers.

Third Person Singular Number Definition

The third person singular form applies when we use pronouns like he, she, it, or specific nouns (like John, the cat, the machine) with present tense verbs. It’s one of those grammar rules that might seem tricky at first but becomes second nature with practice.

Common Usage Patterns of Third Person Singular Number

Subject Type	Base Form	Third Person Singular	Example Sentences
Regular Verbs	walk	walks	She walks to school daily
Verbs ending in -sh/-ch/-x/-z/-s	push	pushes	He pushes the cart
Verbs ending in consonant + y	try	tries	The baby tries to stand
Verbs ending in vowel + y	play	plays	The music plays softly
Irregular Verbs	have	has	It has four legs
Be/Do/Go	be/do/go	is/does/goes	The sun goes down at 6 PM

Special Cases and Exceptions

Category	Base Form	Third Person Form	Example
Modal Verbs	can/will/must	(no change)	She can dance
Auxiliary Verbs	have/do	has/does	He does homework
Common Irregulars	be	is	The cake is ready

Common Challenges

Many learners struggle with consistently applying the third person singular form. Remember these key points:

• Always add -s/-es in the present simple tense
• Watch out for spelling changes with -y ending verbs
• Remember that modal verbs never change

20 Common Third Person Singular Number list with Examples

Subject	Base Verb	Third Person Singular	Example Sentence	Usage Context
He	work	works	He works overtime	Professional setting
She	dance	dances	She dances ballet	Arts/Performance
It	rain	rains	It rains heavily	Weather description
The dog	bark	barks	The dog barks loudly	Animal behavior
The phone	ring	rings	The phone rings at night	Daily occurrence
The teacher	teach	teaches	The teacher teaches math	Educational setting
The baby	cry	cries	The baby cries for milk	Family situation
The car	start	starts	The car starts smoothly	Transportation
The bird	fly	flies	The bird flies south	Nature/Wildlife
The clock	tick	ticks	The clock ticks slowly	Time measurement
The wind	blow	blows	The wind blows gently	Weather phenomenon
The sun	rise	rises	The sun rises early	Natural cycle
Mary	cook	cooks	Mary cooks dinner	Household activity
The plant	grow	grows	The plant grows fast	Gardening/Nature
The computer	crash	crashes	The computer crashes often	Technology
The student	study	studies	The student studies hard	Academic setting
The cat	sleep	sleeps	The cat sleeps all day	Pet behavior
The door	close	closes	The door closes automatically	Home/Office setting
The movie	begin	begins	The movie begins at 8	Entertainment
The machine	buzz	buzzes	The machine buzzes loudly	Industrial/Technical

20 Third Person Singular Number Examples

1. The old grandfather clock ticks steadily through the quiet night.
2. My sister watches romantic movies every Friday evening.
3. This heavy rain makes the garden flourish beautifully.
4. The curious cat chases butterflies in our backyard.
5. My best friend teaches piano to young children.
6. The morning sun rises over the misty mountains.
7. Our neighbor’s dog barks at every passing car.
8. The bright moon shines through my bedroom window.
9. The busy chef prepares special dishes for the evening.
10. A gentle breeze blows through the autumn leaves.
11. The experienced pilot flies across the Pacific Ocean.
12. My grandmother bakes delicious cookies every Sunday.
13. The friendly postman delivers mail in all weather conditions.
14. The small stream flows down the mountain path.
15. Our office printer buzzes loudly while working.
16. The talented artist creates beautiful paintings daily.
17. The old car struggles to climb steep hills.
18. The curious toddler explores every corner of the house.
19. The skilled carpenter builds custom furniture pieces.
20. The morning alarm wakes everyone up at sunrise

 

Third Person Singular Number

Frequently Asked Questions on Third Person Singular Number

Why do we add ‘s’ in third person singular?

The addition of ‘s’ in the third person singular represents a fascinating linguistic evolution that dates back to Old English. This grammatical feature serves multiple purposes in modern English: it helps maintain clarity in communication by distinctly marking the subject’s person and number, enables listeners to track who is performing the action even in complex sentences, and preserves important syntactic information. Additionally, this pattern creates a rhythmic quality in English speech, making the language more melodious and helping learners develop a natural feel for correct usage through pattern recognition. Understanding this rule is crucial for mastering English grammar and achieving native-like fluency.

Do all verbs follow the same pattern?

While the basic concept of adding ‘s’ or ‘es’ in the third person singular might seem straightforward, the English language presents a complex web of exceptions and variations. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns, but irregular verbs like ‘be,’ ‘have,’ and ‘do’ have unique conjugations that evolved separately over centuries of language development. Modal verbs add another layer of complexity by remaining unchanged regardless of person or number. Understanding these variations requires not just memorization but also an appreciation for how English has evolved through different linguistic influences. This knowledge helps learners navigate the subtleties of verb conjugation more effectively.

How do I know when to add ‘es’ instead of just ‘s’?

The choice between adding ‘s’ or ‘es’ in the third person singular follows specific phonological principles designed to maintain pronunciation ease and clarity. When verbs end in sibilant sounds (s, z, sh, ch, x), adding just ‘s’ would create awkward or impossible-to-pronounce combinations. Therefore, we add ‘es’ to create an additional syllable that makes the word pronounceable. This pattern isn’t arbitrary but reflects the natural evolution of English pronunciation patterns. Understanding these phonological rules helps learners predict the correct form without memorizing endless lists of exceptions. The pattern also extends to plural noun formation, showing the systematic nature of English morphology.

Does the third person singular rule apply in other tenses?

The third person singular marking is unique to the present simple tense in English, reflecting a fascinating aspect of the language’s tense system. This specificity exists because the present simple tense carries special semantic weight, indicating habitual actions, general truths, and scheduled events. Other tenses developed differently through English’s history, resulting in their own distinct patterns. The past tense, for example, focuses on the timing of actions rather than person marking, while progressive aspects emphasize the ongoing nature of actions regardless of the subject. This systematic distribution of grammatical markers across different tenses helps create a rich and nuanced system for expressing temporal relationships.

What about questions and negatives?

Questions and negatives in the third person singular showcase the intricate interaction between auxiliary verbs and main verbs in English. The auxiliary ‘does’ takes on the third person marking, while the main verb reverts to its base form – a pattern that emerged from the complex development of English question formation. This system allows for clear expression of negation and interrogation while maintaining grammatical person marking through the auxiliary verb. Understanding this pattern requires grasping both the structural rules of English and the logical relationships between different elements in a sentence. This knowledge helps learners construct questions and negatives confidently while maintaining proper grammar.

Remember, mastering the third person singular is like learning to ride a bike – it might take some practice, but once you’ve got it, it becomes natural. Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to refer back to these examples when needed!