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The present simple, part 3 of 6

Present Simple Negatives: Do Not and Does Not

To make the present simple negative, put do not or does not before the verb: I do not smoke, she does not cook.

A1 · 12 minBefore:Third person: the -s

The idea

What a present simple negative is

It says that something does not usually happen or is not true. With almost every verb, not does not go alone: it needs do or does as a helper.

  1. A habit you do not have. We do not eat out on weekdays.
  2. Something that is not true. The museum does not open on Mondays.
  3. Do does not mean do here, it only helps make the negative: I do not work.

When to use it

To say what you do not do, what you do not like, or what is not true. These expressions go with it:

What you do not like

  • do not like
  • do not want
  • do not care

What you do not know

  • do not know
  • do not understand
  • do not remember

What you do not do

  • do not drink
  • do not eat meat
  • do not work on Sundays

With does not

  • it does not work
  • it does not matter
  • it does not fit

Examples

  • Something you don't do

    I do not smoke.

  • Something someone doesn't do

    My dad does not cook.

  • Something you do not eat

    We do not eat pork.

  • A fact

    It does not snow in Lima.

  • A habit

    My parents do not watch TV.

How to build it

3 steps

  1. Start with the subjectA person, a name, or a pronoun:My sister
  2. Add do not or does notDoes not with he, she, it, or a singular noun; do not with the rest:My sister does not
  3. Add the verb as it isWith no -s: the -s already went to does.My sister does not like fish.

Negative

  1. SubjectHe
  2. do not / does notdoes not
  3. base verbwear
  4. complementglasses.

From affirmative to negative

Look at the subject

With I, you, we, theyI workI do not workdo not + verb
  • you liveyou do not live
  • we eatwe do not eat
  • they singthey do not sing
With he, she, itshe worksshe does not workthe -s moves to does
  • he liveshe does not live
  • it rainsit does not rain
  • Ana studiesAna does not study

How to pronounce it

  • do not

    /du nɑt/

    Do sounds like /du/; not sounds like /nɑt/.

  • does not

    /dʌz nɑt/

    Does sounds like /dʌz/, not "dooz".

Check

My cat (blank) milk. Which one goes in the blank?

Don't confuse it with the short form

She does not drive.

Long form: writing or emphasis

She doesn't drive.

Short form: normal in speech

Do not and does not are the long form. In speech people almost always say don't and doesn't.

Part 4: don't and doesn't

In real life

Said out loud, the long form sounds insistent: I do NOT want to go. For normal conversation, use the short form from part 4.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make a negative with just not, without do?

With almost every verb, no: I not work is not English. Not alone goes with be and verbs like can: I am not tired, I cannot swim.

Does never make the present simple negative too?

Yes, and with no do: I never eat meat. Never is already negative, so it does not go with do not.

How do you make have negative in the present simple?

Like any other verb: I do not have a car, she does not have time. You do not say she has not time.

In short

  • To make it negative: do not or does not + verb: I do not smoke.
  • Does not with he, she, it, or a name: my dad does not cook.
  • After does not, the verb has no -s: he does not work.
  • In speech it gets shorter: don't, doesn't (part 4).
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By Bryan López ·
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