[Grammar] use versus uses

[angelajanmaat]

I can tell which one it needs to be when I read a text but I don't know the reason why we use one or the other. It just sounds wrong. Example: The salmon uses its nose to smell the water of the river that it came from. My students had the choice of use or uses. Like I said I know it is uses but why is it? Any suggestions as to ways to teach this to primary school students. Thank you.

 

[konungursvia]

It's the third person singular that takes the s at the end.

I use.
You use.
HE/SHE/IT uses.
We use.
You use.
They use.

 

[Raymott]