they goes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they goes" is not correct in written English.
It is a grammatical error as the subject "they" should be paired with the verb "go" instead of "goes." Example: "They go to the park every weekend."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"They mocked Reagan, didn't they?" goes the line, as though being mocked alone were a qualification for high office.

The New York Times - Books

Her informant from Ponders End explains: "They goes and buys things they haven't got the money to pay for and then waits to see if they'll turn up trumps.

The Guardian - Books

I would not object to either although as long as English continues to inflect its verbs there is some advantage to "ze", if only to preserve future children from having to learn the difference between "they go", "they goes" and all the interminable debates that would go with it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Then, if the couple wants the relationship blessed -- to be married -- they goes to a church, synagogue or other house of worship.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They went".

The New York Times

"They went big and they went early.

The New York Times

If they go out, they go out.

The New York Times - Sports

"They look, they go".

The New Yorker

They go fast, they go slow, they go all speeds.

The New York Times

How they went wrong.

The New Yorker

Together they went home.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct verb conjugation: with the pronoun "they", use the base form of the verb, which is "go". For example, "They go to the store every day".

Common error

Ensure your verbs agree with their subjects. "They" is a plural pronoun, so it requires the plural form of the verb, "go", not the singular form, "goes". Using "they goes" is a common grammatical error, especially among non-native speakers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they goes" is an incorrect conjugation of the verb 'to go' with the pronoun 'they'. Ludwig indicates that it is a grammatical error. The correct form is "they go".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they goes" is grammatically incorrect, as Ludwig clearly indicates. The correct form is "they go". Although some examples exist in the provided data, primarily from News & Media sources, these instances do not validate its usage. Instead, they highlight contexts where the error occurs, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's important to use "they go" in both formal and informal writing to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity. Remember that "they" is a plural pronoun, requiring the plural form of the verb.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they go

Corrects the verb conjugation to match the plural subject "they".

they are going

Uses the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing or future action.

they will go

Uses the future tense to indicate a planned or expected action.

they proceed

Replaces the verb with a more formal synonym indicating movement or action.

they move

Suggests a change of location or state, using a simple and direct verb.

they usually go

Indicates something that happens in most cases.

they head

Implies a direction or destination, suitable when referring to movement towards a specific place.

they tend to go

Indicates a habitual or frequent action.

they travel

Indicates a journey or longer distance movement.

they're off

An informal way to say they have departed or started a journey.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "they" with the verb "go"?

The correct form is "they go". "Go" is the plural form of the verb that should be used with the plural pronoun "they".

Is "they goes" ever grammatically correct?

No, "they goes" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is always "they go".

What are some alternatives to saying "they go"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "they proceed", "they move", or "they are going".

Why is "they goes" considered incorrect?

It's incorrect because of subject-verb agreement. The pronoun "they" is plural and requires the plural form of the verb, which is "go", not the singular form, "goes".