Lesson Four

singular verbs

Advice from your teacher: Take notes   in your notebook

Singular verbs are used with singular subjects. Take a look at the chart below:

The subject pronouns on the left hand side are singular and the verbs matching those pronouns are also singular. This is especially important for verbs that are used for nouns and pronouns that are male, female, or a thing.

first person singular: I know

second person singular: you know

third person singular: he, she, or it knows

Understanding the differences between singular and plural nouns and pronouns, and whether or not they are in the first person, the second person, or the third person is extremely important when choosing verbs in the present tense, the present continuous tense, the present perfect tense, and the present perfect continuous tense.

What’s confusing for students when talking about singular verbs is that the verbs in the third person take an "s" ending. This is also true for plural nouns.

Look at these examples:

He knows. (The word "knows" is singular. It’s a singular verb.)

The houses on this street are big. (The word "houses" is plural. It’s a plural noun.)

Watch this video, and then try the exercise that follows.

Directions: Indicate if the main verb is singular or plural.

1. She goes to work at 6:00. (singular / plural)

2. The cars are in the parking lot. (singular / plural)

3. That was fun. (singular / plural)

4. You are a good driver. (singular / plural)

5. Am I working tomorrow? (singular / plural)

The answers are below.

Next: Lesson Five

Answers:

1. singular

2. plural

3. singular

4. singular

5. singular