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Khoshtip Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Third person's s
In what situations we don't need to add the third singular s to the verb in present tense please?
For example, I say, he goes to schoo. Here that s is needed but also I say, let the sky fail. Here it's not needed (that fail to be fails). Why and is there any clear rule to recognize where to add and where not add that third singul s to the verbs?
For example, I say, he goes to schoo. Here that s is needed but also I say, let the sky fail. Here it's not needed (that fail to be fails). Why and is there any clear rule to recognize where to add and where not add that third singul s to the verbs?
Top answer
In Let the sky fail. 'fail' is a bare infinitive. I have no idea how one can think of the sky failing.
- In Let the sky fail.
- 'fail' is a bare infinitive.
- I have no idea how one can think of the sky failing.
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9 Answers
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In Let the sky fail. 'fail' is a bare infinitive.
I have no idea how one can think of the sky failing.
I have no idea how one can think of the sky failing.
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"let the sky fail" seems to make little sense. I wonder if you mean "fall". Anyway, when a verb is the main verb, it takes the third-person inflection. In "Let the sky fall", the main verb is "let", not "fall". The verb "let" takes a verb infinitive, in this case "fall".
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khoshtipIn what situations we don't need to add the third singular s to the verb in present tense please?When there is a helping verb "do" or a modal auxiliary (can, may, might) or a catenative verb followed by an infinitive.
He can go.
He must go.
He does go. (the auxiliary is inflected)
She lets him go. (cate
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First of all, there was a typo in the context of my question! I meant fall not fail. Sorry.
OK Mr. 5jedjon, in this sentence Let the sky fall, the word fall seems to be bare infinitive (i.e. without the word to in before it). Please have a look at this one: She says me that I need a book. Here there isn't any to, and also both the word
OK Mr. 5jedjon, in this sentence Let the sky fall, the word fall seems to be bare infinitive (i.e. without the word to in before it). Please have a look at this one: She says me that I need a book. Here there isn't any to, and also both the word
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khoshtipYeah, this seems to be an obvious rule. So can I use that rule always, that is just I measure the verbs and add an s to the end of the main verb in third singular person?Yes. The main exception is the subjunctive mood, which is irregular in the third person singular for all verbs and also first person singular in the verb "be"
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khoshtip@GPY: when a verb is the main verb, it takes the third-person inflection.Yeah, this seems to be an obvious rule. So can I use that rule always, that is just I measure the verbs and add an s to the end of the main verb in third singular person?Yes, I think so (main verb in the clause, not necessarily in the whole sentence, of course).
As you wi
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AlpheccaStarsYes. The main exception is the subjunctive mood,Oh yes, good point.
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GPY there are a few irregular third-person present-tense forms that are not simply base form + "s".These are irregular spellings, which apply to irregular plural nouns, too.
The endings can be -es; -ies. The infinitive form ends in a vowel:
carry -> carries;
ski -> skies
go -> goes
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Thank you all very much. 
So everything is okey now but the subjunctive mood.
I try to find a source which explains it simp
So everything is okey now but the subjunctive mood.
I try to find a source which explains it simp
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