ESL For Chinese Speakers: Plural -s and Third-Person -s, Never Omit

What It Is

The Plural –s and Third Person –s – Never Omit rule is a grammar point that causes difficulty for ESL learners. It states that when forming the plural of nouns, adding –s is necessary, and when forming the third person singular of verbs, adding –s is also necessary, but never omit the –s. For example, "The cat runs" (third person singular) and "The cats run" (plural).

Key Rules

• Add –s to form the plural of nouns: cat-cats, dog-dogs.
• Add –s to form the third person singular of verbs: he/she/it + verb-he/she/it + verb + –s.
• Never omit the –s: The cat run (incorrect)-The cats run (correct).
• Irregular plural nouns: child-children, foot-feet.
• Irregular third person singular verbs: go-goes, be-is.
• Pronunciation tip: stress the –s in third person singular verbs (e.g., "he runs").
• Spelling rule: double the consonant when adding –s to a word ending in a single consonant (e.g., "cat"-"cats").
• Common exceptions: mouse-mice, ox-oxen.
• Pronunciation tip: the –s in plural nouns is usually silent (e.g., "cats").
• Grammar formula: Subject + verb + –s (e.g., "The cat runs").
• Grammar formula: Subject + verb + –s (e.g., "The cats run").

Common ESL Errors

Error: The cat run. Why it happens: Interference from L1 (e.g., in some languages, the verb agrees with the subject in number). Correction: The cat runs (third person singular).

Error: The cats run. Why it happens: Overgeneralization of the third person singular rule. Correction: The cats run (plural).

Error: The dog run. Why it happens: Lack of understanding of the third person singular rule. Correction: The dog runs (third person singular).

Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blank: She (go) to the store yesterday. Correct answer: went Reason: The verb "go" is in the past tense.

2. Fill in the blank: The cat (eat) the mouse. Correct answer: eats Reason: The subject "cat" is in the third person singular.

3. Fill in the blank: The dogs (play) in the park. Correct answer: play Reason: The subject "dogs" is in the plural form.

Last?Minute Revision

Don't forget to add –s to irregular plural nouns like child-children. Don't forget to add –s to irregular third person singular verbs like go-goes. Don't forget to double the consonant when adding –s to a word ending in a single consonant. Don't forget to stress the –s in third person singular verbs. Don't forget that the –s in plural nouns is usually silent. Don't forget that the subject-verb agreement rule applies to all nouns. Don't forget that the third person singular rule applies to all verbs. Don't forget to use the correct form of the verb "to be" (e.g., he/she/it + is). Don't forget to use the correct form of the verb "to have" (e.g., he/she/it + has). Don't forget to use the correct form of the verb "to go" (e.g., he/she/it + goes). Don't forget to use the correct form of the verb "to be" in the present perfect tense (e.g., he/she/it + has been).