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The present simple, part 6 of 6
Do, Does, Don't, or Doesn't: Which One to Use
Choose by two things: question (do, does) or negative (don't, doesn't), and who the subject is: does and doesn't go with he, she, and it.
The idea
How to choose between the four
Do, does, don't, and doesn't are the same helper in four forms. You choose with two questions: is it a question or a negative, and who is the subject?
- Question or negative. Do or does to ask; don't or doesn't to deny: Do you cook? I don't cook.
- Who the subject is. He, she, it, or a name take the -s: Does Ana cook? Ana doesn't cook.
- Do is also a main verb, and then it means do: She does the dishes.
When to use it
To stop hesitating between the four in present simple questions, negatives, and short answers. These expressions go with it:
Common questions
- Do you mind?
- Does it matter?
- Do you think so?
Common negatives
- I don't feel like it.
- It doesn't work like that.
- That doesn't matter.
Do as a main verb
- do my homework
- do the dishes
- do exercise
- does yoga
Examples
- Asking with you
Do you eat breakfast?
- Asking about someone
Does your mom cook?
- Negative with we
We don't have a garden.
- Negative about someone
My uncle doesn't drink.
- Do as do
She does her homework at night.
How to build it
3 steps
- Question or negative?Question: do or does at the start. Negative: don't or doesn't before the verb.Do you...? / I don't...
- Who is the subject?He, she, it, or a singular noun take the form with -s: does, doesn't.Does she...? / She doesn't...
- The verb, always as it isThe -s is already in does or doesn't:Does she cook? She doesn't cook.
Question
- Do / DoesDoes
- subjectMario
- base verblike
- complementdogs
- ??
Negative
- SubjectMario
- don't / doesn'tdoesn't
- base verblike
- complementcats.
The rule
All four in one table
| Subject | Question | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| I, you, we, they | Do you swim? | I don't swim. |
| he, she, it | Does she swim? | She doesn't swim. |
Do is also a main verb
| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I do the laundry on Sundays. | do = main verb |
| My dad does the shopping. | does = main verb with he |
| Does he do sports? | helper + main verb |
How to pronounce it
do
/du/Short and light: /du/.
does
/dʌz/It sounds like /dʌz/, not "dooz".
don't
/doʊnt/The o sounds like the o in go: /oʊ/.
doesn't
/ˈdʌzənt/Two syllables: /ˈdʌzənt/.
Check
My grandpa (blank) use a phone. Which word goes in the blank?
Don't confuse it with be
She doesn't sleep much.
With a verb: doesn't
She isn't sleepy.
With be: isn't
With be (am, is, are) you do not use do: She isn't tired. Are you ready? Do and does go with other verbs.
Be in the negativeIn real life
A quick test: if there is another verb (work, like, eat), use do or does; if there is only be (tired, ready, at home), use be.
Frequently asked questions
Do everybody and nobody take do or does?
Does, like he or she: Does everybody agree? To make it negative with nobody you don't need doesn't, because nobody is already negative: Nobody knows.
Do my family and the team take do or does?
In American English they work like it: Does your family live here? My team doesn't play today.
Why is Does she does yoga? wrong?
Because does already made the question and the verb stays as it is: Does she do yoga? The second do is the main verb, with no -es.
In short
- Question: do or does first; negative: don't or doesn't.
- With he, she, it, or a name: does and doesn't.
- The verb always stays as it is: Does she cook?
- No do with be: She isn't tired.