Enjoy vs. Enjoys – Which is Correct?
Both “enjoy” and “enjoys” are correct forms of the verb enjoy. Use enjoy with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns; use enjoys with he, she, it, and singular nouns in the present tense. The choice depends on the subject, not the speaker’s preference or the formality of the sentence.
When discussing emotional reactions, distinguishing Jealous vs. Envy can clarify whether someone feels threatened or resentful.
Enjoy or Enjoys – Which is Correct?
Enjoy and enjoys are both correct American English words. They are different forms of the same verb. Use enjoy with the subjects I, you, we, and they, as well as plural nouns. Use enjoys with he, she, it, and singular nouns in the simple present tense.
The verb enjoy means to take pleasure or satisfaction in something. The final -s in enjoys shows third-person singular subject-verb agreement. For example, “They enjoy music” is correct, while “She enjoys music” is correct.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the “he-s rule”: if you can replace the subject with he, she, or it, choose enjoys. If the subject is I, you, we, or they, choose enjoy.
Compare these sentences: “He enjoys hiking” and “They enjoy hiking.” The verb changes because he is singular, while they is plural. Remember that you always takes enjoy, whether it refers to one person or several people.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| enjoy | Verb | To take pleasure in something | We enjoy fresh coffee. |
| enjoys | Verb | The third-person singular present form of enjoy | Maria enjoys fresh coffee. |
How to Use Enjoy
Use enjoy with I, you, we, and they in the simple present tense. It also follows plural nouns, modal verbs, auxiliary verbs such as do, and the infinitive marker to. The word is common in both casual and formal English.
Enjoy usually takes a noun, pronoun, or gerund ending in -ing as its object. Standard English generally uses “enjoy reading,” not “enjoy to read.” The verb can also appear in the phrase enjoy yourself, meaning to have a pleasant time.
Example 1: I enjoy walking through the park.
Example 2: They enjoy learning new languages.
Example 3: We hope you enjoy the concert.
What are the different forms of enjoy?
Enjoy is a regular verb. Its main forms are enjoy (base form), enjoys (third-person singular present), enjoyed (simple past and past participle), and enjoying (present participle and gerund).
Use enjoy after modal verbs and auxiliary verbs: “She can enjoy the view,” “Did they enjoy the meal?” and “We do enjoy visiting museums.” Use enjoyed for completed past actions: “He enjoyed the film.” Use enjoying in continuous forms or as a noun-like gerund: “They are enjoying dinner” and “She enjoys painting.”
Etymology of the word enjoy
Enjoy entered English through Anglo-French and Old French forms related to the idea of rejoicing or taking pleasure in something. It is connected to the Latin expression in gaudium, meaning “into joy.” Over time, its meaning developed into the modern sense of receiving pleasure or benefit from an experience.
How to Use Enjoys
Use enjoys only with a third-person singular subject in the simple present tense. Typical subjects include he, she, it, a person’s name, or a singular noun. The form indicates that one person, animal, object, or organization takes pleasure in something.
Do not use enjoys after to, a modal verb, or the auxiliary verb does. Use the base form instead: “She wants to enjoy the trip,” “He can enjoy the game,” and “Does she enjoy the game?”
Example 1: She enjoys listening to classical music.
Example 2: The dog enjoys playing in the garden.
Example 3: Daniel enjoys his new job.
What are the different forms of enjoys?
Enjoys is not a separate verb; it is the third-person singular present form of enjoy. The -s ending is added because the subject is singular and third person. The other forms are enjoy, enjoyed, and enjoying.
In questions and negative statements, does carries the third-person singular marking, so the main verb returns to its base form: “Does he enjoy cooking?” and “She does not enjoy crowded places.”
Etymology of the word enjoys
Enjoys has the same historical origin as enjoy. It developed when English grammar added the regular third-person singular present ending -s to the base verb. The ending does not change the verb’s basic meaning; it signals the grammatical subject.
Related Concepts
Understanding subject-verb agreement and verb complements makes the difference between enjoy and enjoys easier to apply correctly.
- Subject-verb agreement: A verb must match its subject in number and person. Singular third-person subjects generally take enjoys, while plural subjects and the pronouns I and you take enjoy.
- Simple present tense: This tense describes habits, regular activities, facts, and general preferences. The form enjoys is used for singular third-person subjects in this tense.
- Gerunds: After enjoy or enjoys, an activity is commonly expressed with an -ing form, such as “enjoy reading” or “enjoys swimming.”
- Auxiliary verbs: Words such as does, can, and will affect the form that follows. After these words, use enjoy, not enjoys.
Examples from Media and Literature
The verb appears in many contexts involving entertainment, hobbies, travel, food, and personal preferences. These examples illustrate how the subject determines the form:
- Book reviews: “Readers enjoy the novel’s vivid descriptions.” The plural subject readers takes enjoy.
- Film criticism: “The main character enjoys solving mysteries.” The singular subject the main character takes enjoys.
- Travel writing: “Visitors enjoy exploring the historic district.” The plural subject visitors takes enjoy.
- News reporting: “The team enjoys strong support from local fans.” The singular collective noun team takes enjoys in standard American English.
- Biographical writing: “She enjoys gardening in her spare time.” The pronoun she takes enjoys.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- We ______ spending time near the ocean.
- My brother ______ playing chess.
- Do they ______ working from home?
- The cat ______ sleeping in the sunlight.
- I ______ trying new recipes.
Answer Key
- enjoy — The subject we takes the base form.
- enjoys — The singular subject my brother takes the third-person singular form.
- enjoy — After the auxiliary verb do, use the base form.
- enjoys — The singular subject the cat takes enjoys.
- enjoy — The subject I takes the base form.
Enjoy Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Like | To have a favorable feeling toward something |
| Appreciate | To recognize the value or quality of something |
| Relish | To take great pleasure in something |
| Savor | To enjoy something slowly and fully |
| Delight in | To receive considerable pleasure from something |
Enjoys Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Likes | Has a favorable feeling toward something |
| Appreciates | Recognizes the value or quality of something |
| Relishes | Takes great pleasure in something |
| Savors | Enjoys something slowly and fully |
| Delights in | Receives considerable pleasure from something |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it correct to say “I enjoys”?
No. The correct sentence is “I enjoy.” The form enjoys is used with third-person singular subjects such as he, she, it, and singular nouns.
Question 2: Is it “you enjoy” or “you enjoys”?
The correct form is you enjoy. The pronoun you always takes the base form of the verb, whether it refers to one person or more than one person.
Question 3: Should I say “she enjoys to read” or “she enjoys reading”?
Use “she enjoys reading.” The verb enjoy is normally followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund ending in -ing, not an infinitive with to.
Conclusion
Enjoy and enjoys are both correct, but they agree with different subjects. Use enjoy with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns. Use enjoys with he, she, it, and singular nouns in the simple present. Pro Tip: Checking subject-verb agreement helps your writing appear polished and protects your professional reputation.
