The present simple, part 4 of 6

Don't and Doesn't Contractions: Spelling, Sound, and Short Answers

Don't is short for do not and doesn't is short for does not: the apostrophe replaces the o, as in I don't know.

A1 · 12 minBefore:Present simple negatives

The idea

What a contraction is

It is the short form of two words put together: do + not = don't. It means the same as the long form, but it is how people really speak.

You hear it all the time. In speech almost nobody says do not: I don't know.
The long form insists. Do not sounds stronger or more formal: Please do not touch.
It goes in short answers, to say no quickly: Do you drive? No, I don't.

When to use it

To make the present negative the way people really speak, and to give short answers: No, I don't. These expressions go with it:

With I don't

I don't think so.
I don't mind.
I don't feel well.
I don't get it.

With it doesn't

It doesn't matter.
It doesn't make sense.
It doesn't fit.
That doesn't help.

To tell someone not to

Don't worry.
Don't forget.
Don't be late.
Don't wait for me.

Examples

What you don't know
I don't know his name.
A habit
My dad doesn't drink coffee.
Short answers
Do you have a car? No, I don't.
Something that doesn't work
The printer doesn't work.
A like or dislike
We don't like scary movies.
Being firm
I do not want to go!

How to build it

3 steps

Put do or does together with notIt is one word, with no space:do not, don't
The apostrophe goes where the o wasRight before the t:does not, doesn't
Choose by whoDon't with I, you, we, they, or a plural noun; doesn't with he, she, it, or a singular noun, and the verb with no s:My kids don't eat pork. My sister doesn't drive.

Long form

SubjectHe
do not / does notdoes not
base verbdrive
complementto work.

Short form

SubjectHe
don't / doesn'tdoesn't
base verbdrive
complementto work.

Short answer

NoNo,
subjecthe
don't / doesn'tdoesn't.

From the long form to the short form

The o of not drops out

With I, you, we, theydo notdon'tone word

I do notI don't
you do notyou don't
they do notthey don't

With he, she, itdoes notdoesn'tone word

he does nothe doesn't
she does notshe doesn't
it does notit doesn't

The rule

Short answers

Question	Yes	No
Do you like sushi?	Yes, I do.	No, I don't.
Does she drive?	Yes, she does.	No, she doesn't.
Do they live near here?	Yes, they do.	No, they don't.

How to pronounce it

don't
/doʊnt/
The o sounds like the o in go: /oʊ/.
doesn't
/ˈdʌzənt/
Two syllables, stress on the first. The s sounds like /z/.
i don't know
/aɪ doʊnt ˈnoʊ/
In fast speech, the t of don't almost disappears.

Check

Which one is spelled correctly?

Don't confuse them with isn't and aren't

He doesn't cook.

With a verb: doesn't

He isn't a cook.

With be: isn't

Don't and doesn't go with verbs. Isn't and aren't go with be, with no don't.

Isn't and aren't

In real life

Among friends, I don't know gets so short that in texts it is sometimes written dunno: I dunno. It is very informal; in an email, write I don't know.

Frequently asked questions

When do you use do not instead of don't?

In formal writing, like contracts, signs, and instructions (Do not touch), and in speech when you want to insist, stressing not: I do NOT agree. In normal conversation, don't is the natural choice.

Are don't and doesn't used in questions?

Yes, in negative questions like Don't you like it? or Doesn't she work here? They show surprise or check something you think is true; you will see them in detail later.

Can don't be used to tell someone not to do something?

Yes: don't + verb, with no subject, tells someone not to do something: Don't touch that. It works for everyone and is covered in the imperative lesson.

In short

do not = don't, does not = doesn't: one word.
The apostrophe goes where the o was: doesn't.
With he, she, it: doesn't and the verb with no s.
The long form is for emphasis: I do not agree.

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