Remember this!
The present tense form of 'defy' is defy or defies. Example: He defies societal norms by pursuing his passion for art. (He defies societal norms by pursuing his passion for art.)
Definition of “defy”
- to openly resist or refuse to obey someone or something
- to challenge the power, authority, or expectations of someone or something
- to go against or disregard a rule, law, or convention
Tense sentence structure and examples:
Notes from a Native English Speaker
Here are the general structures of a present and past participle. Remember, some verbs have an irregular form and may not follow this structure: Present Participle: [Verb] -ing Past Participle: [Verb] -ed
| Present Simple | defy |
| Present Continuous | defying |
| Present Perfect | defied |
Example
He defies authority and stands up for what he believes in.
Example
They defy conventional wisdom and take a different approach.
Example
She is defying expectations and pursuing a career in a male-dominated field.
Example
They are defying the odds and working towards their dreams.
Example
He has defied all expectations and achieved great success.
Example
They have defied societal norms and created their own path.
defy Subject-Verb Agreement
Notes from a Native English Speaker
Subject-verb agreement means that a subject and its verb match. They’re either both plural or both singular. A singular subject takes a singular verb. - Example: The cat is sleeping. A plural subject takes a plural verb. - Example: The cats are sleeping.
| Singular First Person (I) | defy |
| Singular Second Person (You) | defy |
| Singular Third Person (He/She/It) | defies |
| Plural (We/You/They) | defy |
Example
I defy authority.
Example
You defy authority.
Example
He defies authority.
Example
She defies authority.
Example
It defies authority.
Example
We defy authority.
Example
You defy authority.
Example
They defy authority.
