 Negation
with Do
In negation, do is an auxiliary verb. It is used to help make a
sentence negative.
Notice that do is the
conjugated verb and it is used in the present or past tense. The main verb remains in the infinitive (without to).
The negative word not is placed between the two verbs.
| subject |
auxiliary |
negation |
main verb |
noun |
| I |
do |
not |
like |
bananas. |
| He |
does |
eat |
| Canada |
does |
grow |
| They |
do |
sell |
| Tom |
did |
buy |
| We |
did |
import |
Do in the negative can be contracted.
Contractions
are very common in spoken and written English.
| do |
+ not = |
don't |
| does |
doesn't |
| did |
didn't |
With all verbs except be and modal verbs, do is required
to make a negative statement.
| affirmative |
negative |
incorrect |
| I want to go. |
I do not want to go. |
I not want to go. |
| He knows me. |
He doesn't know me. |
He not know me. |
| We have a car. |
We do not have a car. |
We not have a car. |
| They read books. |
They don't read books. |
They not read books. |
| Susan works here. |
Susan doesn't work here. |
Susan not work here. |
If the sentence is in the past tense, the main verb is changed to the
infinitive and the verb do is put in the past tense.
| She watched TV. |
She did not watch TV. |
| Maria liked Ted. |
Maria did not like Ted. |
| We drank coffee. |
We didn't drink coffee. |
| I saw the movie. |
I didn't see the movie. |
| They smoked. |
They did not smoke. |
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