As an IELTS tutor, one common question I often encounter is whether “askes” or “asks” is the correct form. It’s understandable that confusion arises in this matter, as both forms seem plausible. However, the correct word to use is “asks.” Let me take a moment to explain why.
In English grammar, verbs undergo various changes depending on the subject and tense. One such change is called verb conjugation, which involves altering the base form of a verb to match the subject. For most verbs in the present tense, the third-person singular form changes by adding an “-s” or “-es” ending. With “ask,” the third-person singular form is “asks.”
Let’s consider some examples to further illustrate this rule. Suppose we have a sentence in the present tense with the subject “he” or “she.” In this case, we would use the form “asks”:
– She asks me for help with her homework.
– He asks his colleagues for advice.
Notice that both “she” and “he” require the verb to be conjugated with the “-s” ending, resulting in the correct form “asks.”
On the other hand, when the subject of a sentence is “I,” “you,” “we,” or “they,” we use the base form of the verb without any alterations:
– I ask the teacher for clarification.
– You ask a lot of questions during class.
– We ask our friends to join us for dinner.
– They ask him about his plans for the weekend.
Notice that in all these examples, the verb “ask” remains unchanged, regardless of whether it’s used with “I,” “you,” “we,” or “they.”
However, it’s worth noting that verb conjugation can vary depending on the tense. In this case, we are specifically discussing the present tense. For past or future tenses, different conjugations may apply. Still, in the present tense, “asks” is the correct form to use with third-person singular subjects.
To summarize, “asks” is the correct form to use in the present tense with third-person singular subjects. Other subjects, such as “I,” “you,” “we,” or “they,” do not require any changes to the base form of the verb “ask.” Remember to keep this rule in mind when constructing sentences in English to ensure accuracy and clarity in your communication.
So, the next time you are unsure about whether to use “askes” or “asks,” remember that “asks” is the correct choice when referring to the present tense with third-person singular subjects. Happy learning and keep asking great questions!