SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
Negatives
To form the negative in the simple present tense, place do not or does not before the base form of the verb. The contracted forms don’t and doesn’t are commonly used in everyday speech.
I do not know (I don’t know)
you do not know (you don’t know)
he does not know (he doesn’t know)
she does not know (she doesn’t know)
it does not know (it doesn’t know)
we do not know (we don’t know)
you do not know (you don’t know)
they do not know (they don’t know)
Note: After does not (doesn’t), the verb stays in the base form — it does not take the -s used in the third person singular affirmative.
Exercises
Change the following sentences from affirmative to negative. Use both the full form and the contracted form.
Maria enjoys reading mystery books. (Maria does not enjoy reading mystery books. Maria doesn’t enjoy reading mystery books.)
We eat breakfast at 7:30 every morning.
He plays the guitar in a band.
The shop opens at nine o’clock.
My parents visit us every Sunday.
I drink coffee in the evening.
She speaks three languages fluently.
They work in a small office downtown.
The bus stops in front of my house.
You take good photos with your camera.
Leave a Reply