Meet vs. Meets – Which is Correct?
“Meet” and “meets” are both correct forms of the verb meet. Use meet with I, you, we, they, plural nouns, and after helping verbs; use meets with he, she, it, or a singular noun in the present tense. The choice depends on subject-verb agreement, not on meaning, spelling, or formality.
Meet or Meets – Which is Correct?
Meet and meets are both correct. They are different forms of the same verb, and the correct choice depends on the subject of the sentence.
Use meet with the subjects I, you, we, and they, with plural nouns, and after modal or auxiliary verbs such as can, will, should, and does. Use meets with a singular third-person subject, such as he, she, it, or a singular noun, in the simple present tense.
For example, “We meet every Friday” is correct, while “She meets every Friday” is correct. The verb’s basic meaning remains the same: to come together, encounter someone, satisfy a requirement, or fulfill an expectation.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the he, she, it test. If you can replace the subject with he, she, or it, choose meets. If the subject is I, you, we, or they, choose meet.
Remember the pattern: He meets, but they meet. Also, after does, use the base form: “Does she meet the deadline?” not “Does she meets the deadline?”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| meet | Verb; base form and plural present form | To come together, encounter, or satisfy a condition | They meet at the station. |
| meets | Verb; third-person singular present form | The same actions as meet with a singular subject | The proposal meets our requirements. |
How to Use Meet
Meet is the base form of the verb and is used with I, you, we, and they. It is also used with plural nouns and after auxiliary or modal verbs. The word works in casual, professional, academic, and formal writing.
Meet can describe seeing or gathering with someone, encountering a person for the first time, satisfying a standard, or dealing with an obligation. It can also refer to being introduced to a person or coming into contact with a challenge.
Example 1: We meet with the client every Monday.
Example 2: The candidates must meet all the eligibility requirements.
Example 3: I hope to meet your colleagues at the conference.
For workplace contexts, compare “In a Meeting” vs. “On a Meeting” vs. “At a Meeting” when choosing the right preposition.
What are the different forms of meet?
Meet is an irregular verb. Its principal forms are meet in the base form, meets in the third-person singular present tense, met in both the simple past and past participle, and meeting as the present participle or gerund.
| Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Base form: meet | We meet after work. |
| Third-person singular: meets | He meets the team today. |
| Past tense: met | They met last year. |
| Past participle: met | She has met the director. |
| Present participle: meeting | We are meeting tomorrow. |
Etymology of the word meet
Meet comes from Old English mētan, meaning “to come upon” or “to find.” It is related to the idea of encountering or coming together. The modern forms met and meeting developed from the same Germanic-rooted verb.
How to Use Meets
Meets is the third-person singular present-tense form of meet. Use it when the subject is he, she, it, or one singular noun. It is common in everyday speech and writing and is not more formal than meet.
In addition to describing people coming together, meets can mean “satisfies” or “fulfills.” This use is especially common with words such as standards, requirements, expectations, needs, and criteria.
Example 1: She meets her mentor for lunch each month.
Example 2: This product meets the company’s safety standards.
Example 3: The new schedule meets everyone’s needs.
What are the different forms of meets?
Meets is not a separate verb; it is one form of the irregular verb meet. It appears only in the simple present tense with a third-person singular subject. In other tenses or after helping verbs, use another form of meet.
For example, write “She meets the deadline,” but “She met the deadline,” “She will meet the deadline,” and “Does she meet the deadline?”
Etymology of the word meets
Meets has the same origin as meet. It consists of the verb meet plus the third-person singular present-tense ending -s. The form developed according to the standard English pattern in which singular third-person subjects take an -s ending in the simple present.
Related Concepts
Understanding subject-verb agreement and verb forms makes it easier to choose between meet and meets.
- Subject-verb agreement: A verb must match its subject in person and number. Singular third-person subjects take meets, while I, you, we, and they take meet.
- Irregular verbs: Irregular verbs do not form every tense by simply adding -ed. The past tense of meet is met, not “meeted.”
- Auxiliary verbs: After words such as does, will, can, and should, use the base form meet, even when the subject is singular.
- Transitive and intransitive uses: Meet can be used without an object, as in “We meet regularly,” or with an object, as in “They meet the requirements.”
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples show how meet and meets work in familiar literary and media contexts:
- The Hobbit: Bilbo meets Gandalf, so the singular subject “Bilbo” requires meets.
- Romeo and Juliet: Romeo and Juliet meet at the Capulet celebration, so the plural subject takes meet.
- Harry Potter: Harry meets new companions at Hogwarts, illustrating the third-person singular form.
- News reporting: A headline may state that “Leaders meet to discuss trade,” because “leaders” is plural.
- Business writing: A product description may say that “The device meets federal standards,” using meets with the singular subject “device.”
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- She ___ her manager every Thursday.
- We ___ at the library after class.
- The new policy ___ the organization’s requirements.
- They ___ for coffee whenever they are in town.
- Does he ___ the minimum age requirement?
Answer Key
- meets — “She” is a singular third-person subject.
- meet — “We” takes the base form.
- meets — “The new policy” is singular.
- meet — “They” takes the base form.
- meet — The auxiliary verb “does” is followed by the base form.
Meet Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| encounter | To come into contact with someone or something |
| gather | To come together in one place |
| assemble | To bring or come together, often for an organized purpose |
| satisfy | To fulfill a requirement, condition, or standard |
| encounter | To experience or face a person, situation, or problem |
Meets Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| encounters | Comes into contact with someone or something |
| gathers | Comes together in one place |
| assembles | Brings or comes together for an organized purpose |
| satisfies | Fulfills a requirement, condition, or standard |
| fulfills | Successfully completes an obligation or expectation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it “we meet” or “we meets”?
The correct form is we meet. The subject we takes the base form of the verb in the simple present tense.
Question 2: Is it “she meet” or “she meets”?
The correct form is she meets. A singular third-person subject such as she takes meets in the simple present tense.
Question 3: Is “meets” the past tense of “meet”?
No. Meets is the third-person singular present form. The past tense and past participle are both met.
Question 4: Should you write “does he meet” or “does he meets”?
Write does he meet. After the auxiliary verb does, use the base form meet.
Conclusion
Meet and meets are both correct, but they serve different grammatical subjects. Use meet with I, you, we, they, plural nouns, and auxiliary verbs. Use meets with he, she, it, or a singular noun in the simple present. Pro Tip: Correct subject-verb agreement strengthens your professional reputation by making your writing appear polished, precise, and credible.
