The “person” of a verb

The person of a verb depends on its subject. There are six persons: three singular and three plural. In many languages, verbs ‘conjugate’ or make an ‘inflection’ according to the person. In modern English the only usual inflexion is in the first person singular in the present tense.

Examples:

• 1^st person singular           I live.
• 2^nd person singular          You live.
• 3^rd person singular           He lives. She lives. It lives.
• 1^st person plural                We live.
• 2^nd person plural               You live.
• 3^rd person plural               They live.

• 1^st person singular           I walked.
• 2^nd person singular          You walked.
• 3^rd person singular           He walked. She walked. It walked.
• 1^st person plural                We walked.
• 2^nd person plural               You walked.
• 3^rd person plural               They walked.