#2 (permalink) Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:50 am Farmers use tractors |
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'use' is a verb here and the verb form has nothing to do with adding an -s to a word to make it plural. These nouns/pronouns require 'use': I, you (singular and plural), we, they, plural nouns These nouns/pronouns require 'uses': he, she, it, singular nouns
However, 'Farmers' is plural, and a plural noun needs to be followed by 'use'. Farmers use... The farmer uses... _________________ "Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett |
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Beeesneees Language Coach

Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 39144 Location: UK, born and bred
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#3 (permalink) Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:18 am Farmers use tractors |
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Hi Moylopez,
There are many words in English that can be both noun and verb such as - look - cook - lift - paper and so on. 'Use' is also one of these words. In the test sentence it is used as a verb in the present tense and because the subject (farmers) is plural, it has to be - Farmers use. We only add 's' to the verb in the third person singular present.
'Use' as a noun makes a plural in 'uses' - What is the use (singular) of this discussion? This instrument has many uses (plural).
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 17284 Location: UK
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