By definition, inflection is: <em>" change in the form of a word (typically the ending) to express a grammatical function or attribute such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender."</em>
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In this case, the original form of the verb is <u>To Play</u>.
The verb's inflection, <em>"-s"</em>, indicates a <u>tense</u>. Plays is in the present tense. But the conjugation is used for the third person (singular), such as he, she, or it.