he explain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he explain" is not correct in written English.
It should be "he explains" to indicate the present tense for third-person singular subjects. Example: "He explains the concept clearly during the lecture."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

How does he explain it?

Independent

Can he explain that?

The Guardian

How does he explain the disjuncture?

The Guardian

How does he explain his own opinions?

The New York Times

How does he explain their claims?

The Guardian - Books

How would he explain his father's behavior?

The New York Times

Did he explain himself in court?

The Guardian

Did he explain, say, why he grew the beard?

The New York Times

In terms of inequality, can he explain what he means?

The Guardian

How did he explain this to himself: if at all?

The New Yorker

"Did he explain what he was doing here?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct third-person singular present tense form, "he explains", in formal writing. This ensures grammatical accuracy and clarity.

Common error

A common mistake is using the base form of the verb with a third-person singular subject. Remember to add an '-s' to the verb when the subject is "he", "she", or "it" in the present tense. For example, use "he explains" instead of "he explain".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he explain" typically functions as an incomplete verb phrase. The subject pronoun "he" requires a conjugated verb form in the present tense. Ludwig AI identifies the correct form as "he explains".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he explain" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "he explains". Despite its frequent appearance across various sources, including news and media, it is crucial to use the grammatically correct form, particularly in formal writing. Ludwig AI identifies "he explains" as the appropriate alternative. While alternatives like "he clarified" or "he described" can be used depending on the context, "he explains" remains the most direct and accurate way to express the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he explains

Changes the verb to the third-person singular present tense, which is grammatically correct.

he clarified

Replaces "explain" with a synonym that implies making something clearer.

he detailed

Uses a different verb to suggest providing specifics or particulars.

he outlined

Implies giving a summary or the main points of something.

he described

Offers an alternative that suggests giving a verbal account of something.

he justified

Suggests providing reasons or justifications for something.

he defended

Presents the act of supporting a point of view.

he accounted for

Offers the act of provided an explanation of a fact.

he interpreted

Implies clarifying the meaning of something.

he elucidated

Suggests explaining something in great detail, making it easier to understand.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "he explain" in a sentence?

The grammatically correct way is to use "he explains", which is the third-person singular present tense. For example, "He explains the concept clearly".

What can I say instead of "he explain"?

You can use alternatives such as "he clarified", "he detailed", or "he described" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "he explain" or "he explains"?

"He explains" is the correct form because it uses the third-person singular present tense verb conjugation.

When should I use "he explains"?

Use "he explains" when you want to describe someone clarifying or detailing something in the present tense. For example, "He explains the rules of the game".