Uso de "doesn't" para negaciones

Negative sentences in English are fundamental to express the absence of actions or states. Mastering the correct structure of these sentences will allow you to communicate more accurately and fluently, especially when you need to deny information. In this content, we will explore how to form negative sentences in the present simple tense, paying special attention to the differences between the different grammatical persons.

How to form negative sentences in the present simple?

To form negative sentences in English, we need to use the auxiliaries "do" or "does" together with the negative particle "not". The choice between "do" and "does" depends on the grammatical person performing the action. This distinction is crucial for constructing grammatically correct sentences.

When to use "do not" or "don't"?

We use "do not" or its contracted form "don't" with the following grammatical persons:

• First person singular: I do not speak Spanish / I don't speak Spanish
• Second person singular and plural: You do not speak Spanish / You don't speak Spanish
• First person plural: We do not speak Spanish / We don't speak Spanish
• Third person plural: They do not speak Spanish / They don't speak Spanish

When to use "does not" or "doesn't"?

For the third person singular (he, she, it), we use "does not" or its contracted form "doesn't":

• He does not speak Spanish / He doesn't speak Spanish
• She does not speak Spanish / She doesn't speak Spanish
• It does not speak Spanish / It doesn't speak Spanish

It is important to remember this distinction: "do not/don't" for I, you, we, they and "does not/doesn't" for he, she, it.

How does the main verb behave in negative sentences?

A fundamental aspect of negative sentences in the present simple is that the main verb always remains in its base form, regardless of the grammatical person. This contrasts with affirmative sentences, where the verb changes in the third person singular.

Examples with different verbs

Let's look at some examples with the verb "go":

• I do not go to school / I don't go to school
• You do not go to school / You don't go to school
• We do not go to school / We don't go to school
• They do not go to school / They don't go to school

And for the third person singular:

• He does not go to school / He doesn't go to school
• She does not go to school / She doesn't go to school
• It does not go to school / It doesn't go to school

Important note: In negative sentences, the verb never has the ending -s/-es, even when referring to the third person singular (he, she, it). The correct form is "He doesn't go" (not "He doesn't go").

More practical examples

Let's practice with other verbs:

1. Watch TV:

   • I don't watch TV
   • She doesn't watch TV (no "watches")

2. Eat lunch:

   • I don't eat lunch
   • He doesn't eat lunch (no "eats")

3. Study English:

   • I don't study English
   • She doesn't study English (no "studies")

4. Take a shower:

   • I don't take a shower
   • He doesn't take a shower (no "takes")

5. Work:

   • I don't work
   • She doesn't work (no "works")

What are common mistakes when forming negative sentences?

When learning to form negative sentences in English, it is common to make some mistakes. Identifying them will help you avoid them and improve your grammatical accuracy.

Mistake 1: Omitting the auxiliary

Incorrect: She does not play soccerCorrect: She does not play soccer / She doesn't play soccer

We always need to use "do" or "does" in negative sentences in the present simple.

Error 2: Adding -s/-es to the main verb

Incorrect: She doesn't play soccerCorrect: She doesn't play soccer

Remember that in negative sentences, the main verb always goes in its base form, without the -s/-es ending, even for the third person singular.

Practical exercises

Complete these sentences by choosing the correct option:

1. My sister _____ English. a) doesn't speak b) doesn't speak c) don't speak

The correct answer is b) doesn't speak. We use "doesn't" because we are talking about "my sister" (third person singular) and the verb is without -s because it is a negative sentence.

2. Lucas _____ soccer. a) doesn't play b) don't play c) doesn't plays

The correct answer is a) doesn't play. Lucas is third person singular, so we use "doesn't", and the verb goes without -s.

3. Mary _____ to school. a) no go b) doesn't go c) doesn't go

The correct answer is c) doesn't go. "No go" is incorrect because we need to use "do" or "does". "Doesn't goes" is incorrect because we don't need to add -s to the verb in negative sentences.

Mastering the formation of negative sentences in English requires constant practice. Always remember the basic rules: use "do not/don't" for I, you, we, they; use "does not/doesn't" for he, she, it; and keep the main verb in its base form. Have you noticed any other difficulties forming negative sentences in English? Share your experiences in the comments.