... Read moreYou know, when I first read about the author's struggle with the third-person singular 's', I felt totally seen! It truly is one of the most confusing rules in English grammar, and honestly, even after years of speaking English, it can still trip me up sometimes. But I've picked up some tricks that I want to share, especially since many of us also get confused by noun plurals, 'these' and 'those', and even the difference between 'got' and 'get'! So, let's dive into some of these tricky areas together.
The Third-Person Singular 'S': Why Does It Exist?
The author hit the nail on the head – "Why he dances more?" is a question many of us have asked! In the simple present tense, when your subject is singular (he, she, it, or a singular noun like 'the dog', 'my friend'), you add an 's' to the end of the verb. For plural subjects (we, you, they, or plural nouns like 'the dogs', 'my friends') or 'I', the verb stays in its base form.
Singular: He *walks*, She *reads*, It *rains*. The dog *barks*.
Plural/I/You: I *walk*, You *read*, We *play*, They *run*. The dogs *bark*.
My personal tip? Just remember 'S' for 'Singular' (he, she, it). It’s a little mental shortcut that really helped me!
Unraveling the Plural of Nouns
Another common headache is forming noun plurals. While adding an 's' is the most common, English loves its exceptions!
Add -s: Most nouns (e.g., cat -> *cats*, book -> *books*).
Add -es: Nouns ending in -s, -ss, -x, -ch, -sh, -z (e.g., bus -> *buses*, watch -> *watches*, box -> *boxes*).
Change -y to -ies: Nouns ending in a consonant + -y (e.g., city -> *cities*, baby -> *babies*). But if it's a vowel + -y, just add -s (e.g., boy -> *boys*).
Irregular Plurals: These are the tricksters! (*man* -> *men*, child -> *children*, mouse -> *mice*, foot -> *feet*). There’s no easy rule here; it’s all about memorization and exposure. I used to make flashcards for these!
Decoding 'These' and 'Those'
Someone mentioned confusing 'these' and 'those' – I totally get that! These are called demonstrative pronouns or adjectives, and they tell you about the number and proximity of something.
These: Used for plural items that are near you. Imagine you can reach out and touch them. "Look at these delicious cookies I just baked!" (The cookies are close).
Those: Used for plural items that are far from you. Imagine pointing across the room or street. "Can you see those beautiful mountains in the distance?" (The mountains are far).
Remember, 'this' is for singular near, and 'that' is for singular far. It’s like a little distance gauge for your words!
The Subtle Difference Between 'Got' and 'Get'
This one can be tricky because 'get' is such a versatile verb! 'Get' means to obtain, receive, become, arrive, or understand. 'Got' is typically the past tense and past participle of 'get'.
Get (present tense): "I get a new magazine every month." (receive) "I finally get what you mean!" (understand)
Got (past tense): "I got a postcard from my friend yesterday." (received) "I got home late last night." (arrived)
Also, you'll often hear 'have got' as a more informal way of saying 'have' (possess) or 'must' (obligation), especially in British English or casual American speech. "I've got a new car" means "I have a new car." "I've got to go now" means "I must go now."
I know it can feel like you're navigating a maze, but breaking down these confusing English grammar rules makes it so much easier. Keep practicing, keep asking questions, and you'll master them in no time! What's another rule that still makes you scratch your head?
Why is Kansas pronounced Kansas but Arkansas not pronounced Arkansas?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN ARKANSAS?! (bonus points if you know the Vine I’m referencing 😂) #letschat
if i'm being honest i never knew the difference between effect and affect and i just guess