Subject-Verb Agreement — He Goes, They Go
English verbs change for third person; Hindi verbs change for gender
Category: Grammar
The Rule
English present simple: add -s/-es for he/she/it ('She goes', 'He plays'). Hindi verbs agree with gender (जाता/जाती), not person-number in the same way. Hindi speakers often drop the -s.
Why This Matters
Hindi: 'वह जाता है' and 'मैं जाता हूँ' — the main verb stem doesn't change for person (only the auxiliary does). English: 'He goes' but 'I go' — the main verb itself changes. Hindi speakers produce 'She go', 'He play' because Hindi doesn't add a marker to the main verb for third person.
Examples
• She works at a hospital. — "वह अस्पताल में काम करती है।" [She + works (with -s)] • He likes pizza. — "उसे पिज़्ज़ा पसंद है।" [He + likes (with -s)] • They work at a hospital. — "वे अस्पताल में काम करते हैं।" [They + work (no -s)]
Common Mistakes
❌ She work every day. ✅ She works every day. → Third person singular (she/he/it) requires -s on the verb in present simple. ❌ He don't like spicy food. ✅ He doesn't like spicy food. → Third person: 'doesn't' (not 'don't'). The -s moves to the auxiliary.
Quick Tip
Only in present simple, only for he/she/it: add -s. 'She goes, He runs, It works.' All other subjects: no -s. 'I go, You run, They work, We play.'
Only in present simple, only for he/she/it: add -s. 'She goes, He runs, It works.' All other subjects: no -s. 'I go, You run, They work, We play.'
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: She work every day. → Correct: She works every day.. Third person singular (she/he/it) requires -s on the verb in present simple.
Incorrect: He don't like spicy food. → Correct: He doesn't like spicy food.. Third person: 'doesn't' (not 'don't'). The -s moves to the auxiliary.
Quiz
Which is correct?