Foundation grammar · Unit 6 · A1

I don't ... (present simple negative)

Present

The present simple negative is don't or doesn't + the verb: I don't eat meat. She doesn't drive.

Go to the exercises

A don't / doesn't + verb

Two scenes:

  • A woman offers her friend a biscuit. The friend says: "No, thanks. I don't eat biscuits." She doesn't eat biscuits.
  • A man is standing in the rain at a bus stop, looking at his watch. "I don't like Mondays." He doesn't like Mondays.
positive negative
I / we / you / they work, like, do, have I / we / you / they do not (don't) work, like, do, have
he / she / it works, likes, does, has he / she / it does not (doesn't) work, like, do, have
  • I eat fish but I don't eat meat.
  • Carys eats meat but she doesn't eat fish.
  • You don't sleep very much.
  • We don't go out very often.
  • It's a dry part of the country. It doesn't rain much.
  • Steve and Jan don't know anybody here.

B don't and doesn't
I / we / you / they don't ...
he / she / it doesn't ...

We say My phone doesn't work (not My phone don't work).

  • I don't like cricket.
  • She doesn't like cricket.
  • I don't know Ellie and Ellie doesn't know me.
  • My phone doesn't work very well.
  • Sometimes the bus is full, but it doesn't happen very often.

C don't / doesn't + the infinitive

After don't and doesn't the verb has no -s: don't like, doesn't speak, doesn't do, doesn't have.

We say She doesn't speak German (not She doesn't speaks) and He doesn't have a car (not He doesn't has). The -s has already gone on does, and one is enough.

  • I don't like ironing. I don't do it very often.
  • Marek speaks Polish but he doesn't speak German.
  • Lou doesn't do the shopping. Her husband does it.
  • Tom doesn't usually have lunch.

Exercises

6.1 Write the negative.

  1. I drink a lot of water.

    I don't drink a lot of water.

    I don't drink a lot of water.

  2. Liam drinks a lot of water.

  3. They know my address.

  4. We get up very early.

  5. She has a shower every morning.

  6. You do the same thing every weekend.

6.2 Somebody asked three people "Do you like ... ?". Amir and Lucy: jazz yes, cricket no, cooking yes. Dev: jazz no, cricket yes, cooking no. For the last sentence in each item, write the truth about you.

  1. Amir and Lucy like jazz. Dev doesn't like jazz. I like jazz.

    Amir and Lucy like jazz. Dev doesn't like jazz. I like jazz.

  2. Amir and Lucy cricket. Dev cricket. I cricket.

  3. Amir and Lucy cooking. Dev cooking. I cooking.

6.3 Write about yourself. Use I never ... or I often ... or I don't ... very often.

  1. (go to the gym)

    Example answer: I don't go to the gym very often.

  2. (play computer games)

  3. (take the bus)

  4. (eat takeaways)

  5. (go to concerts)

6.4 Complete the sentences. All of them are negative. Use don't or doesn't + one of these verbs.

costgoknowreadseeusewear

  1. I've got lots of books but I don't read them very often.

    I've got lots of books but I don't read them very often.

  2. Ellie has a bike but she it much.

  3. My parents like the seaside but they there very often.

  4. Owen has a tie but he it.

  5. I much about cars. I'm not interested in them.

  6. It's a cheap café. It much to eat there.

  7. Rosie lives in the next street but we her very often.

6.5 Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative.

  1. Noor plays three instruments: the piano, the violin and the flute. (play)

    Noor plays three instruments: the piano, the violin and the flute.

  2. I don't like this town. There's nothing to do here. (like)

    I don't like this town. There's nothing to do here.

  3. "What's the time?" "Sorry, I . I haven't got a watch." (know)

  4. Ben is very shy. He much at parties. (say)

  5. Hannah a lot of orange juice. She loves it. (drink)

  6. You won the lottery? I you! (believe)

  7. What a lovely song. I it very much. (like)

  8. Gemma is a vegan. She cheese. (eat)

See also