 English
Contractions: Do
The present and past tense of the verb do can be contracted
with the negative word not.
To form the contraction, the word do, does, or did is joined with the
word not and the letter o in not is replaced with an
apostrophe.
| do |
+ not = |
don't |
| does |
doesn't |
| did |
didn't |
For example:
| I do not believe you. |
= |
I don't believe you. |
| She does not know. |
She doesn't know. |
| They did not write me. |
They didn't write me. |
The verb do can be contracted with not in
yes/no questions. Note
that the position of the subject changes.
| Do you not hear the baby? |
Don't you hear the baby? |
| Does she not like Tom? |
Doesn't she like Tom? |
| Did we not pass the test? |
Didn't we pass the test? |
In informal speech, the past tense did can be contracted with
wh- question words. Drop the first two letters of did and add an
apostrophe.
| Who did you see? |
= |
Who'd you see? |
| What did you play? |
What'd you play? |
| When did you start? |
When'd you start? |
| Where did they go? |
Where'd they go? |
| Why did he laugh? |
Why'd he laugh? |
| How did Tom get here? |
How'd Tom get here? |
Learn more about the verb do:
Contractions with other verbs will be explained in future lessons.
| Contractions with |
Be |
| Do |
| Have |
| Modals |
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