Present Simple Negative — Don't and Doesn't
Practice present simple negatives with don't (I/you/we/they) and doesn't (he/she/it), and the rule that the main verb stays in its base form after both.
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She ___ spicy food at all.
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doesn't like
After 'doesn't', use the base form with no -s: 'doesn't like'.
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We ___ work at weekends.
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don't
Use 'don't' with I, you, we, they.
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My old laptop ___ work very well anymore.
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doesn't
Use 'doesn't' with 'my laptop' (it).
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My sister ___ meat — she's been vegetarian for years.
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doesn't eat
After 'doesn't', use the base form with no -s — 'doesn't eat'.
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My colleagues ___ usually take a break in the afternoon.
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don't
Use 'don't' with the plural subject 'my colleagues'.
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This machine ___ work — there's a fault with it.
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doesn't
Use 'doesn't' with 'this machine' (it).
Present Simple Negative: Don't vs Doesn't
The present simple negative is built with the auxiliary 'do not' (don't) or 'does not' (doesn't) plus the base form of the main verb. 'Don't' goes with I, you, we and they; 'doesn't' goes with he, she, it and singular nouns. The single most important rule to remember is that once the auxiliary carries the negative and, for 'doesn't', the third-person marking, the main verb returns to its plain base form — it never takes an extra -s.
Don't (I / You / We / They)
My colleagues don't usually take a break in the afternoon.
Doesn't (He / She / It)
My old laptop doesn't work very well anymore.
My sister doesn't eat meat — she's been vegetarian for years.
This machine doesn't work — there's a fault with it.
The Base-Form Rule
Because 'doesn't' already agrees with he/she/it, adding -s to the main verb as well produces a double-marking error — one of the most common present simple mistakes at this level. 'She doesn't likes' is wrong for exactly the same reason 'she doesn't goes' is wrong: the -s belongs on the auxiliary only.
Common Mistakes
✗ My sister doesn't eats meat. → ✓ My sister doesn't eat meat.
✗ My colleagues doesn't take a break. → ✓ My colleagues don't take a break. (plural subject)
✗ My old laptop don't work very well. → ✓ My old laptop doesn't work very well. ('it' → doesn't)
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