In the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, demonstrating strong Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy is crucial for achieving a high score.

One common error to avoid is the omission of the third–person singular ‘s’ in verbs. This error occurs when we forget to add the ‘s’ to the base form of the verb when referring to a singular subject.

In this article, we will explore the importance of using the correct verb form with the third–person singular subjects, accompanied by examples and answers to help you identify and rectify this issue effectively.

1. Third Person Singular Verb Forms:

When the subject of a sentence is a singular noun, pronoun, or noun phrase, we need to add the third–person singular ‘s’ to the base form of the verb.

 Original Sentence:

He walk to work every day.

Revised Sentence: He walks to work every day.

In the revised sentence, the missing third person singular ‘s’ is added to the verb “walk” to match the singular subject “he.”

2. Omission of Third Person Singular ‘s’ in Present Simple Tense:

The present simple tense requires the addition of the third–person singular ‘s’ to the base form of the verb when the subject is singular.

 Original Sentence:

She speak English fluently.

Revised Sentence:

She speaks English fluently.

In the revised sentence, the missing third person singular ‘s’ is added to the verb “speak” to match the singular subject “she.”

3. Omission of Third Person Singular ‘s’ in Present Simple Negative Sentences:

When forming negative sentences in the present simple tense with a singular subject, we use the auxiliary verb “does” and add “not” before the base form of the verb, which still requires the third–person singular ‘s.’

 Original Sentence:

He not like spicy food.

Revised Sentence:

He does not like spicy food.

In the revised sentence, the missing third person singular ‘s’ is added to the verb “like” to match the singular subject “he.”

4. Omission of Third Person Singular ‘s’ in Present Simple Questions:

When forming questions in the present simple tense with a singular subject, we use the auxiliary verb “does” before the subject, and the base form of the verb still requires the third-person singular ‘s.’

Original Sentence:

Does she goes to the gym regularly?

Revised Sentence:

Does she go to the gym regularly?

In the revised sentence, the incorrect addition of the third person singular ‘s’ is corrected by removing it from the verb “go” to match the singular subject “she.”

Using the correct verb form with third-person singular subjects is crucial to maintaining grammatical accuracy and clarity in your writing. Practice recognizing singular subjects and ensuring the corresponding verb forms include the third–person singular ‘s.’

Additionally, familiarize yourself with irregular verbs that do not follow this rule. Seeking feedback from others and utilizing grammar resources can further assist you in improving your Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

With consistent practice and attention to detail, you will excel in your IELTS examination.