Question

What does the '-s' in 'He walks' signify in terms of verbal inflection?

• A. Plural form
• B. Past tense
• C. Third person singular present tense
• D. Present participle

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Third person singular present tense

Understanding Verbal Inflection: The '-s' in 'He walks'

• What is Verbal Inflection?

  • Verbal inflection refers to changes in the form of a verb to express different grammatical categories such as tense, mood, person, number, and aspect. These changes often occur at the end of the verb.
  • It's a crucial part of morphology, the study of the forms of words.

• The Significance of '-s' in 'He walks':

  • The suffix '-s' or '-es' attached to a verb, as seen in 'He walks,' 'She sings,' or 'It rains,' is a classic example of verbal inflection in English.
  • This specific inflection signifies two main grammatical categories simultaneously:
    • Third Person: It refers to the subject 'he,' 'she,' or 'it' (or any singular noun like 'the dog,' 'John,' 'the company'), which is neither the speaker nor the listener.
    • Singular Number: It indicates that the subject is a single entity.
    • Present Tense: It denotes an action that happens regularly, habitually, or is generally true in the present.
  • Therefore, the '-s' precisely indicates the Third Person Singular Present Tense.

• Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA):

  • This inflection is a cornerstone of Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA) in English grammar. SVA dictates that the verb must agree in number with its subject.
  • Rule: For third person singular subjects in the simple present tense, the verb takes an '-s' or '-es' suffix. For all other persons (first person singular/plural, second person singular/plural, third person plural), the base form of the verb is used (e.g., 'I walk,' 'You walk,' 'They walk').
  • Examples for clarity:
    • He walks. (Third person singular)
    • She reads. (Third person singular)
    • It rains. (Third person singular)
    • I walk. (First person singular)
    • You read. (Second person singular/plural)
    • They rain. (Third person plural)

• Common Errors & Competitive Exam Focus:

  • Many competitive exams test knowledge of SVA, especially with tricky subjects or long phrases between the subject and verb.
  • Distractors often include: Plural nouns preceding the verb that are not the actual subject, collective nouns, or indefinite pronouns.
  • Key Fact: Verbs ending in 's' or 'es' are singular when referring to simple present tense, whereas nouns ending in 's' or 'es' are typically plural (e.g., 'dogs,' 'boxes'). This distinction is vital for competitive exams.
  • Important Note: This rule applies to the simple present tense of most verbs. Modal verbs (can, will, may, must, etc.) do not change their form for third person singular subjects (e.g., 'He can swim,' not 'He cans swim'). The verb 'to be' and 'to have' are irregular and follow their own patterns (e.g., 'He is,' 'He has').