Unit 1.2

Present Simple Negative


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Introduction

The present simple is the tense used to express permanent situations or events that regularly repeat or always occur.

When expressed in its negative form, the verb denies something about the subject.

Form

The present simple, in its negative form, has this structure:
Subject + do/does + not + verb + …

  • Do/does: the third person singular changes from do to does;
  • Verb: the base form of the verb is the same (without any changes);
  • Irregular verb to be: I am not – you aren’t – he isn’t…
Subject do/does + not Verb Short form
I do not work don’t
You do not work don’t
He does not work doesn’t
She does not work doesn’t
It does not work doesn’t
We do not work don’t
You do not work don’t
They do not work don’t

Example

  1. The player does not hit the ball. 
  2. Vegetarians do not eat meat.
  3. I do not usually wake up at 8 o’clock.
  4. The princess doesn’t want to get married. 
  5. Don’t go straight and don’t turn left.
  6. She doesn’t work in a police station.
  7. The exam period doesn’t end on December 24.
  8. I do not promise to be with you forever.
  9. The plane doesn’t land at 9 o’ clock.

Use

Present simple, in its negative form, is used to deny something about:

  1. completed actions that happen as we speak (commentaries);
  2. facts (things that are generally true, stated);
  3. habits/routines (something that happens repeatedly in the present);
  4. informal narrative (when telling a story).
  5. instructions (orders);
  6. permanent situations (that have been happening for a while and will be happening in the future);
  7. planned future (planned events with a given exact date);
  8. promises;
  9. timetables (planned events with given exact time).

Summary

We use the present simple, in its negative form, to deny situations that regularly, repeatedly or always occur.

When we use the present simple in its negative form, we start with the subject followed by do not and the verb in its base form. In the third person singular, we use does not.

For example:
— “I don’t work on important projects.” = The sentence is in the present simple negative, so we use do not followed by the base form of the verb to work (do not work).
— “She doesn’t work on important projects.” = The subject is she, so we use does not followed by the base form of the verb to work (does not work).

NOTE: The verb to be is irregular, so it doesn’t follow the general formation rule for the negative form, and we just add not after the verb.

Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.

Related

The present simple in its negative form denies something often repeats or happens all the time. It can also be used to confirm something in Affirmative form and ask something in Interrogative form.

If you want to speak about something that is happening now, you can use the present continuous.

Exercises

External link to Present Simple Negative exercises (7).



More exercises

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