plays

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plays" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, such as discussing actions, performances, or roles in a narrative or conversation. Example: "She plays the piano beautifully at every concert."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Film

Stage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As a part of America's higher education system, college basketball plays and important role in diversity, equality, fairness and inclusion, and will continue to do so in the future".

The Guardian - Sport

"When the UK plays an active leading role in Europe we can achieve enormous things which we simply could not on our own," Clarke said.

The Guardian

Sean Penn, who plays a jazz guitarist in Woody Allen's Sweet and Lowdown, is also nominated.

The Guardian - Film

He is the author of seven acclaimed plays.

The Guardian

"There will be national plays and performances staged.

The Guardian

"I understand that basketball plays 80-something games, baseball plays this many games, soccer plays that many games, but this is a sport that's most-watched in America.

The Guardian - Sport

His tenure has also brought NT Live, the scheme through which plays from the National are broadcast live in cinemas in Britain and overseas.

The Guardian

I think you can do what you like with these plays.

The Guardian

There is interesting follow-up work to be done here on teachers', parents' and peers' responses to poorer children achieving grades above expectations, and indeed how this plays out across gender, ethnicity and for pupils with additional needs.

The Guardian

I remember the concerts and plays, and working in the kitchens, but I do not remember sleeping.

The Guardian - Music

Whoever plays, and whoever they play against, that seems to be the template for Chelsea this season.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing roles in a performance or game, use "plays" to clearly indicate the action of acting or participating. For example, "She plays the lead role" or "He plays center on the basketball team."

Common error

Avoid the common mistake of using the possessive form "play's" or the nonexistent word "playes" when you mean the third-person singular present tense of the verb "play". Always ensure you are using the correct form to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "plays" is as a third-person singular present tense verb, indicating an action performed by a singular subject. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts, as demonstrated in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

23%

Sport

13%

Film

9%

Less common in

Stage

7%

Lifestyle

2%

Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plays" functions primarily as the third-person singular present tense form of the verb "play", describing actions or roles. Ludwig AI confirms the word's correctness and wide applicability across various contexts. It is frequently used in news, sports and film as well as stage-related content. While versatile, it's important to avoid confusions with possessive forms like "play's". Alternative phrases include "performs" or "participates in". By following these guidelines, writers can confidently and accurately use "plays" in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

performs

Focuses on the act of carrying out a specific action or role.

participates in

Highlights active engagement in a group activity or event.

takes part in

Emphasizes involvement or participation in an activity or event.

engages in

Suggests a deeper level of involvement and commitment.

enacts

Implies a formal or official action, such as enacting a law or a scene.

carries out

Focuses on the completion of a task or duty.

executes

Conveys the idea of carrying out a plan, order, or role effectively.

fulfills

Emphasizes the satisfaction of a requirement or expectation.

undertakes

Implies taking on a task or responsibility.

operates

Implies the functional use of something.

FAQs

How do I use "plays" in a sentence?

Use "plays" to describe someone performing an action, fulfilling a role, or engaging in an activity. For example, "He "plays the guitar"" or "She "plays an important role" in the company".

What are some alternatives to the word "plays"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "performs", "enacts", "participates", or "engages in".

Is it correct to say "He play" instead of "He plays"?

No, "He play" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "He "plays"", as it uses the third-person singular present tense verb conjugation.

What is the difference between "plays" and "playing"?

"Plays" is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb "play", while "playing" is the present participle. For example, "He "plays" the piano" (present tense), versus "He is "playing" the piano" (present continuous tense).