When do you use say vs says?

Answer 1

They are both present forms of the verb 'to say'.

The word 'says' you can use when the person speaking is one and no more than one person (or thing), who is not you or me. Example: He says that he is going to arrive tomorrow morning. She says she read the schedule and the schedule says there are no arrivals tomorrow.

If it is more than one person or if it is me or you, you use 'say'. E.g. I say there are no arrivals tomorrow. I understand you say the same thing. We both say that there are no arrivals tomorrow, so we agree with what she and the schedule say. Nobody agrees with what he says.

Answer 2

Say should be used when talking in first person or talking about plural people. Says should be used when not talking in first person and talking about singular people.

Examples:

Shouldn't I say my line now?

They say it is fun.

Well, we say no.

The teachers say we should work together.

He says he will go to the store.

She says her hand still hurts.

Mr. McGuire says we should quit bothering him.

Answer 3

"Say" is used with subjects like "I", "you", "we", and "they" in the present tense (e.g., I say, you say). "Says" is used with singular subjects like "he", "she", and "it" in the present tense (e.g., she says, he says).