Present simple negative form: How and When to Use in English
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Present simple negative form
Reminder: for regular verbs, use the infinitive without to for I/you/we/they. For he/she/it, add an s at the end of the verb.
You talk to your parents. (to talk)
Anna travels to Belgrade. (to travel + s)
To make regular verbs negative, simply add do/does + not (full form) or don't/doesn't (short form, for spoken and informal language) before the verb. Do not add an s at the end of the verb in the he/she/it form.
To talk (short form)
I don't talk
You don't talk
He/She/It doesn't talk
We don't talk
You don't talk
They don't talk
To like (full form)
I do not like
You do not like
He/She/It does not like
We do not like
You do not like
They do not like
Caroline likes meat → She does not like meat.
We talk to the receptionist → We don't talk to the receptionist.
The verb do also conjugates with do/does not.
I do my work → I don't do my work.
Shorty does his best → Roger doesn't do his best.
Notes:
- The short negative form is currently used more often than the full form.
I do not like tennis (less common) → I don't like tennis. (more common)
- The verb to have can also conjugate with do/does not.
I have a car → I don't/do not have a car.
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