When we learn English, especially when it involves verbs and their different forms, it can sometimes be a bit tricky, right? Let’s talk about how verbs change when we talk about more than one person or thing doing something. Today, we focus on the verb "catch."
The correct form is catches. This is the third person singular form of the verb ‘to catch’, used when referring to he, she, or it in the present tense. For example, “She catches the bus every morning.” The verb follows the standard rule of adding ‘-es’ to the base form when the verb ends in ‘ch’.
The form ‘catchs’ is incorrect and not used in English. Always use ‘catches’ when indicating a singular subject in the present tense. This correct usage ensures clear and proper communication in both written and spoken English.
What Happens to Verbs in the English Language?
Verbs are like the engines of sentences; they keep our words moving. When a verb relates to only one person, we say it’s in the singular form. But when it’s more than one, we use what’s called the plural form.
So, how does this work for the verb ‘catch’?
Forms of ‘Catch’
‘Catch’ is a verb which means to capture something or someone. Imagine you throw a ball, and someone else grabs it before it hits the ground. They just caught the ball. Pretty easy, right?
It’s very straightforward until we start changing the number of people or the time we are talking about. This is where regular and irregular verbs come into play.
Regular and Irregular Verbs
Most verbs in English are ‘regular’. To show they happened in the past, we just add -ed at the end. For example, ‘talk’ becomes ‘talked.’
But some verbs are ‘irregular.’ They don’t follow standard rules, making them a bit harder to remember. ‘Catch’ happens to be one of these irregular verbs.
Singular vs. Plural
When we talk about more than one person, we often change the verb. For instance, "he catches" but "they ____?" Here’s how it goes for ‘catch’:
- I catch
- You catch
- He/She/It catches
- We catch
- They catch
Notice anything? When it’s ‘he’, ‘she’, or ‘it’, we add -es to the verb. And yes, even though it might seem different, it remains the same for ‘you’, ‘we’, and ‘they’. Simple enough, right?
‘Catchs’ or ‘Catches’?
Now, here’s a tricky question. What if we need to talk about what happens regularly or often?
We use what’s known as the third person singular form by adding -es at the end. That gives us ‘catches’.
- He catches the bus every morning.
- She catches colds easily during winter.
‘Catchs’ isn’t a word that you’ll find in English. It may sound like it fits, especially if we think about those regular verbs. But remember, ‘catch’ likes to stand out and play by its own rules, hence ‘catches’.
Why the Extra Letter in ‘Catches’?
This might feel a bit like someone added something extra just to confuse us. However, there’s a simple explanation. When forming the third person singular, verbs ending with an o, ch, sh, th, ss, gh, or z sound need an extra ‘e’ before the s to make the pronunciation easier.
- For instance, ‘rush’ becomes ‘rushes’.
- Similarly, ‘catch’ becomes ‘catches’.
Imagine saying “catchs.” It sounds clunky, right? Adding that ‘e’ smooths things out, making it easier to pronounce “catch-es.”
Some Quick Examples
To clear it up, let’s look at a few examples:
- Every Monday, Jennifer catches the early train to the city.
- The dog catches the frisbee effortlessly.
When you’re using it in past tense though, it changes to ‘caught’, but that’s a story for another day!
Practice Makes Perfect!
Understanding these rules might seem daunting at first, but with practice, it becomes second nature. Why not try creating sentences using ‘catches’? It’s a fantastic way to get comfortable with irregular verb forms.
Is this making sense so far? Remember, the more you use these rules, the easier it gets. Before long, spotting and using the correct verb forms will be as simple as catching a slow-moving ball!
To sum it up, ‘catches’ is the correct form to use for describing what one person or thing does regularly, like in “My cat always catches the mice.” Keep practicing, and you’ll master these concepts in no time. Keep it simple and use it confidently in your conversations or writing!
