Grammar Basics: Unit 6 – Simple Present, Negative

To make the negative of a simple present sentence, use the appropriate form of the verb DO together with NOT, followed by the dictionary form of the main verb of the sentence.

Examples: I/you/we/they + do not (don’t) + V

Examples:

I eat ==> I do not (don’t) eat
You drive ==> You do not (don’t) drive
We walk ==> We do not (don’t) drive
They talk ==> They do not (don’t) talk

he/she/it + does not (doesn’t) + V

Examples:

He sings ==> He does not (doesn’t) sing
She runs ==> She does not (doesn’t) run
It rains ==> It does not (doesn’t) rain

Note that for third person singular, there is NO “s” after the end of the main verb. Instead, the “s” goes on DO: do ==> does.

Examples:

John doesn’t like pizza.
They don’t eat out at all. (“eat out” = eat at a restaurant)
I don’t do my homework when I feel sick.
You don’t have your key with you, do you?
He doesn’t have a chance of winning the election.

Exercises: Write negative sentences from the following words. Be sure to put the verb “do” in the right form (do // does).

Example:
have / horses / wings ==> Horses don’t have wings.

1. any / more / piano / play / Steve / the

2. at / bird / night / sing / the

3. broccoli / children / like / the

4. I / on / TV / watch / weekdays

5. fall / grass / in / mow / our / the /we

6. after / dark / drive / Nelson / sisters / the

7. enough / he / study

8. cats / eat / vegetables

9. phone / the / work

10. car / start / the

11. cook / Mother / on / Sundays

12. early / Father / get / on / up / weekends

13. coffee / drink / Jim

14. either / he / like / tea

15. at / magazines / our / sell / store / we

16. fast / turtles / walk

17. eat / much / very / you

18. choir / in / Mary / sing / the

19. any / have / more / they / tickets

20. bad / like / they / weather