How to Use ‘S or ES’: Present Indefinite Action Verbs Exercises

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So, you’re comfortable with “am, is, are.” Excellent! Now, let’s dive into the dynamic world of action verbs in the Present Indefinite Tense. This is where many learners hit a roadblock: the mysterious third-person -s. Why do we say “I work” but “she works”? And when do we use this tense for actions, anyway?

Consider this your detective’s manual. We’re going to crack the case of the -s ending, explore the real-world uses of this tense for habits and facts, and provide you with activities and exercises to make it second nature.

Part 1: The Rules of the Game & Their Exceptions

The Present Indefinite for action verbs (like work, live, play, study) is used for:

  • Habits & Routines: I drink coffee every morning.
  • General Truths & Facts: The sun rises in the east.
  • Permanent Situations: He works for a tech company.
  • Scheduled Events (in the near future): The train leaves at 5 PM.

The Golden Rule: The Third-Person -S
This is the core of the intermediate challenge. For he, she, it, and singular nouns, add an -s to the base verb.

  • I eat → He eats
  • You live → She lives
  • They work → My boss works

The Exceptions (The Spelling Clues):
A good detective looks for clues! The -s isn’t always just an ‘s’.

  • Verbs ending in -sh, -ch, -ss, -x, -o: Add -es (watch → watches, go → goes).
  • Verbs ending in a consonant + -y: Change -y to -ies (study → studies, try → tries).

Part 2: Engaging Activities to Automatize the -S

The goal is to get your brain to add the -s without thinking. These activities build that muscle memory.

This is a classic for a reason, but let's make it intermediate.

  • How to play: Partner up. Interview each other about a third person you both know (a mutual friend, a family member, a famous person). Because you're talking about him or her, you'll be forced to use the third-person -s constantly.

  • Example Questions: "What time does Marco usually wake up?" "What does he typically have for breakfast?" "Where does he work?" "What does he do for fun?"

  • Why it works: It creates a natural and repetitive context for using the target grammar, moving the focus from the rule to the communication.

A fun way to practice general truths.

  • How to play: Create statements about the world, some true and some false. The other player must correct the false statements. This uses both positive and negative forms.

  • Example:

    • You: "The Amazon River flows through Egypt." (Fiction)

    • Partner: "That's false! The Amazon River doesn't flow through Egypt. The Nile flows through Egypt."

    • You: "Bees produce honey." (Fact)

    • Partner: "That's true! Bees produce honey."

  • Why it works: It combines grammar practice with general knowledge, making the learning process more dynamic and engaging.

Part 3: Comprehensive Exercises for Mastery

Apply your detective skills to these targeted exercises.

Exercise 1: The Third-Person -S Investigation

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Pay close attention to spelling!

  1. My brother [to study] engineering at university.

  2. She [to go] to the gym three times a week.

  3. This computer [to run] very slowly.

  4. He [to watch] the news every evening.

  5. The company [to try] its best to be eco-friendly.

  6. Maria [to do] her homework right after school.

One sentence in each pair is incorrect. Identify the mistake and correct it.

  1. a) He play the guitar very well.
    b) They play football every weekend.

2. a) She doesn't like coffee.

b) My father don't work on Saturdays.

3.  a) The train arrive at platform 4.

b) The trains arrive every ten minutes.

Write a short paragraph about a person you admire (it can be real or fictional). Describe their daily habits and one general truth about their character. Use at least four different action verbs, ensuring you use the third-person -s correctly.

Example:
"My friend Lena is a doctor. She wakes up very early every day. She walks to the hospital where she works. Lena cares deeply for her patients. She always *says that kindness is as important as medicine."

You’ve now cracked the case of the Present Indefinite for action verbs! Remember, the key is consistent practice. The more you read, listen, and speak, the more natural that third-person -s will become. You’ve moved from simply knowing the rule to applying it in dynamic and meaningful contexts.

Level up your Main Verbs understanding in Present Indefinite Tense by practicing more such Exercises Here.

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