English · A1 · grammar · 4 minutes
Third-person singular -s
Add one present marker in affirmative statements and move it to does in questions/negatives.
Understand the choice
English marks third-person singular once. In Maya works the marker is on works; in does she work? it moves to does and work returns to base form.
Core rule: With he/she/it or one singular noun, affirmative present lexical verbs take -s/-es; questions/negatives use does + base verb.
Notice it in context
Maya works here, but she does not live nearby.
Maya trabaja aquí, pero no vive cerca.
Works carries -s; does carries it in the negative, so live is base.
Does your brother play football?
Is football an activity of your brother?
Does carries third-person; play stays base.
The train leaves at eight and does not stop here.
The train departs at eight without stopping here.
Leaves has -s; after does, stop has none.
What to remember
- Verbs ending consonant+y change to -ies: study→studies.
- Have→has and do→does are irregular third-person forms.
Common trap: Do not mark both auxiliary and main verb: does not lives.