He go? The one ending English kept

Objective & content

This Grammar Fix video (about 4 minutes) fixes one mistake: the missing s after he, she or it, as in He go to school. Freya (British) and Cody (American) explain why everybody forgets it: English kept only one verb ending. They give the rule (he plays, she works, it rains) and apply it to names and things (my brother plays, the dog runs). They teach three verbs that change spelling: has, does, goes. Students repeat sentences with the hosts, then play a three-round game: which sentence is right?

Pedagogical guide

The first languages of all our learners change the verb for each person more than English does. English kept exactly one ending, so learners read it as noise, not as a rule. Expect this mistake in any class. Watch for two more problems. Students forget the s after a name or a noun (my brother, the dog) even when they say he plays correctly. And once the rule is learned, many add an s everywhere: round two of the game (they live) is built to catch this. The video says the wrong sentence only once. Do the same: correct it, do not drill it.

Suggested procedure

1. Before (2 min). Ask three students what a friend does every day. Write their verbs on the board. Do not correct them yet.
2. Watch (4 min). Play the video once. Students repeat aloud each time the hosts say "Try it with us" or "Say them with me".
3. Game (3 min). Play the game again. Both sentences are on screen. Pause before each answer and ask the class to vote.
4. After (4 min). Go back to the verbs on the board. In pairs, students correct them and say why: he, she or it?

Materials & prerequisites

• The video, a screen and sound for the whole class.
• The example sentences are at about A1 level. Students need the subject pronouns and a few everyday verbs (play, work, live, go).

Assessment & extensions

Students describe a family member or a friend in three sentences with he or she. They swap with a partner and check each verb for its s.