Present simple: negatives and questions

Rules

• Rule 1: I / you / we / they → don't

  Use don't (do not) + base verb with I, you, we, they and plural nouns.

  Pattern: I / you / we / they + don't + verb

  Example: We don't have school on Sunday.

  Example: Penguins don't live in the desert.

• Rule 2: he / she / it → doesn't + base verb

  Use doesn't (does not) with he, she, it. The -s is now in doesn't, so the verb has no -s: She doesn't play.

  Pattern: he / she / it + doesn't + verb

  Example: My dad doesn't eat sugar.

  Example: Our teacher doesn't give homework on Fridays.

• Rule 3: Questions → Do / Does first

  Put Do (I, you, we, they) or Does (he, she, it) first. The verb stays in base form. Question words go before: Where do you…? What time does she…?

  Pattern: Do / Does + subject + verb …?

  Example: Do you walk to school?

  Example: Does your sister play the violin?

• Rule 4: Short answers

  Answer with do / does, not the main verb: Yes, I do. / No, she doesn't.

  Pattern: Yes, I do. · No, he doesn't.

  Example: Do you like puzzles? — Yes, I do.

  Example: Does your cat catch birds? — No, it doesn't.

Common mistakes

• She doesn't likes milk. → She doesn't like milk.

  After doesn't → base verb.

• He don't play chess. → He doesn't play chess.

  he → doesn't.

• Are you like pizza? → Do you like pizza?

  With a main verb like “like”, present simple questions use do / does.