Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 6 · A1

I don't ... (present simple negative)

The present simple negative is don't or doesn't + the verb: I don't eat meat. She doesn't drive.

Start the lesson

14Steps · about 23 minutes

In this lesson

don't / doesn't + verbA1 screen of questions
don't and doesn'tB5 screens of questions
don't / doesn't + the infinitiveC1 screen of questions
Put it together+2 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 3

don't / doesn't + verb

Two scenes:

  • A woman offers her friend a biscuit. The friend says: "No, thanks. I don't eat biscuits." She doesn't eat biscuits.
  • A man is standing in the rain at a bus stop, looking at his watch. "I don't like Mondays." He doesn't like Mondays.
positive negative
I / we / you / they work, like, do, have I / we / you / they do not (don't) work, like, do, have
he / she / it works, likes, does, has he / she / it does not (doesn't) work, like, do, have
  • I eat fish but I don't eat meat.
  • Carys eats meat but she doesn't eat fish.
  • You don't sleep very much.
  • We don't go out very often.
  • It's a dry part of the country. It doesn't rain much.
  • Steve and Jan don't know anybody here.

Point A · Exercise 6.3

Write about yourself. Use I never ... or I often ... or I don't ... very often.

  1. Example

    (go to the gym)

    I don't go to the gym very often. / I never go to the gym. / I often go to the gym.

    Example answerI don't go to the gym very often.

  2. (play computer games)

  3. (take the bus)

  4. (eat takeaways)

  5. (go to concerts)

Point B of 3

don't and doesn't
I / we / you / they don't ...
he / she / it doesn't ...

We say My phone doesn't work (not My phone don't work).

  • I don't like cricket.
  • She doesn't like cricket.
  • I don't know Ellie and Ellie doesn't know me.
  • My phone doesn't work very well.
  • Sometimes the bus is full, but it doesn't happen very often.

Point B · Exercise 6.1 · part 1 of 2

Write the negative.

  1. Example

    I drink a lot of water.

    I don't drink a lot of water.

    AnswerI don't drink a lot of water.

  2. Liam drinks a lot of water.

  3. They know my address.

  4. We get up very early.

  5. She has a shower every morning.

Point B · Exercise 6.1 · part 2 of 2

Write the negative.

  1. You do the same thing every weekend.

Point B · Exercise 6.2

Somebody asked three people "Do you like ... ?". Amir and Lucy: jazz yes, cricket no, cooking yes. Dev: jazz no, cricket yes, cooking no. For the last sentence in each item, write the truth about you.

  1. Example

    Amir and Lucy like jazz. Dev doesn't like jazz. I like jazz.

    AnswerAmir and Lucy like jazz. Dev doesn't like jazz. I like jazz.

  2. Amir and Lucy cricket. Dev cricket. I cricket.

  3. Amir and Lucy cooking. Dev cooking. I cooking.

Point B · Exercise 6.4 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences. All of them are negative. Use don't or doesn't + one of these verbs.

Use these

costgoknowreadseeusewear

  1. Example

    I've got lots of books but I don't read them very often.

    AnswerI've got lots of books but I don't read them very often.

  2. Ellie has a bike but she it much.

  3. My parents like the seaside but they there very often.

  4. Owen has a tie but he it.

  5. I much about cars. I'm not interested in them.

Point B · Exercise 6.4 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences. All of them are negative. Use don't or doesn't + one of these verbs.

Use these

costgoknowreadseeusewear

  1. It's a cheap café. It much to eat there.

  2. Rosie lives in the next street but we her very often.

Point C of 3

don't / doesn't + the infinitive

After don't and doesn't the verb has no -s: don't like, doesn't speak, doesn't do, doesn't have.

We say She doesn't speak German (not She doesn't speaks) and He doesn't have a car (not He doesn't has). The -s has already gone on does, and one is enough.

  • I don't like ironing. I don't do it very often.
  • Marek speaks Polish but he doesn't speak German.
  • Lou doesn't do the shopping. Her husband does it.
  • Tom doesn't usually have lunch.

Point C · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with don't or doesn't and the verb in brackets.

  1. Kemi coffee. She only drinks tea. (drink)

  2. My grandad a mobile phone. (have)

  3. We to the gym on Sundays. (go)

Put it together · Exercise 6.5 · part 1 of 2

Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative.

  1. Example

    Noor plays three instruments: the piano, the violin and the flute. (play)

    AnswerNoor plays three instruments: the piano, the violin and the flute.

  2. Example

    I don't like this town. There's nothing to do here. (like)

    AnswerI don't like this town. There's nothing to do here.

  3. "What's the time?" "Sorry, I . I haven't got a watch." (know)

  4. Ben is very shy. He much at parties. (say)

  5. Hannah a lot of orange juice. She loves it. (drink)

  6. You won the lottery? I you! (believe)

Put it together · Exercise 6.5 · part 2 of 2

Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative.

  1. What a lovely song. I it very much. (like)

  2. Gemma is a vegan. She cheese. (eat)

Lesson 6 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Do you ... ? (present simple questions)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. don't / doesn't + verb–Not checkedB. don't and doesn't–Not checkedC. don't / doesn't + the infinitive–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked