A1 Beginner Present simple
Present simple — negative
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can say what you do not do, and you will stop writing “He doesn't likes”.
When to use it
- Saying what you do not do: I don't eat meat.
- Saying what is not true: It doesn't rain much here.
- Denying someone's habit: She doesn't drink coffee.
Form
| Subject | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I · You · We · They | don't + base verb | I don't like coffee. |
| He · She · It | doesn't + base verb | He doesn't like coffee. |
Step by step
- Look at the subject → choose don't or doesn't.
- Remove the -s from the main verb and put it back in its base form.
- Put it together: Subject + don't/doesn't + base verb.
Turning an affirmative into a negative
| Affirmative | Negative | Note |
|---|---|---|
| I like tea. | I don't like tea. | the verb does not change |
| He likes tea. | He doesn't like tea. | likes → like |
| She watches TV. | She doesn't watch TV. | watches → watch |
| It has four legs. | It doesn't have four legs. | has → have |
Examples
I don't like coffee.
We don't watch TV in the morning.
My parents don't work on Sunday.
She doesn't eat meat.
He doesn't have a bike.
It doesn't rain much in winter here.
The shop doesn't open on Sunday.
Minh doesn't play the guitar.
Common mistakes
He doesn't plays football. → He doesn't play football.
The -s already sits inside does. It may appear only once in the sentence.
They doesn't understand. → They don't understand.
They is not third person singular, so use don't.
He doesn't has a bike. → He doesn't have a bike.
has also goes back to its base form have after doesn't.
Memory tip
Think of does as a box holding the -s. Once the -s is in the box, the verb behind it is empty-handed.
Summary
- I/you/we/they → don't · he/she/it → doesn't.
- After don't and doesn't the verb is always the base form.
- has → have · likes → like · watches → watch.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.