Present Simple: He Works, She Goes
I can use the present-simple ending for one other person.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Start with the contrast
I work at home. My friend Eva works in a studio. I go by bus; Eva goes by bicycle.
Read the situation transcript
I work at home. My friend Eva works in a studio. I go by bus; Eva goes by bicycle.
What changes when I becomes Eva?
Compare your idea
Work becomes works and go becomes goes.
How it works
In an affirmative present-simple sentence, add -s or -es with he, she or it. A name such as Eva also refers to one person: Eva works.
Common changes include work → works, watch → watches, go → goes and study → studies. Have is irregular: he has. The change belongs to the verb, not to the person’s name.
He/she/it + works/goes/watches/studies/has.
Notice this
I work at home.
I takes the base form.
Compare this
Eva works in a studio.
One other person takes works.
Hear the examples
I work at home.
I takes the base form.
Eva works in a studio.
One other person takes works.
He goes by bicycle.
Go becomes goes.
She studies after dinner.
Study becomes studies.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: My brother work at night.
Say: My brother works at night.
My brother means he, so add -s in this affirmative sentence.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Describe one friend’s work or study routine.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
My friend studies in the evening.
Check yourself: Use the ending with one friend.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Change I to she: I watch films on Fridays.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
She watches films on Fridays.
Check yourself: Watch takes -es.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Say what a family member has.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
My brother has a bicycle.
Check yourself: Use has with one other person.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Change the subject: We go early. He…
Compare a model and explanation
He goes early.
Go becomes goes with he.
Self-check 2
Complete: Mina ___ English. Use study.
Compare a model and explanation
Mina studies English.
Change consonant + y to -ies.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
-
My sister ___ in a café.
works: My sister means she, so use works.
-
He ___ to school by bus.
goes: The third-person form of go is goes.
-
Lea ___ every evening.
studies: Study changes to studies with one other person.
-
Choose the correct sentence.
My father watches films.: Watch takes -es: watches.
-
Which subject fits “___ have two bags”?
They: They takes have; she and Ben take has.
-
Correct “She have a car.”
She has a car.: The third-person form of have is has.
-
“I play” becomes “He ___.”
plays: A vowel before y means we simply add -s: plays.
-
What does Lina do every morning?
She reads.: Reads is the activity stated in the recording.
-
Choose the correct pair.
I live; she lives: The affirmative ending appears with she, not I.
-
What does -s show in “Omar works here”?
The subject is one other person.: This verb ending agrees with a third-person singular subject.
Take it with you
I can use the present-simple ending for one other person.