subject + do/does + not + base verbUse this with present-time action verbs. After does not, the main verb stays in base form.
Negation Basics
A1Make basic negatives with not after an auxiliary: do not, does not, did not, is not. With do/does/did, the main verb stays in base form.
What you'll learn
- Place not after the auxiliary.
- Build negatives with do not, does not, and did not.
- Make negative be sentences with am not, is not, and are not.
- Keep the main verb in base form after do, does, and did.
- Spot common negative patterns with not.
Structure
subject + did + not + base verbUse this with past-time action verbs. After did not, the main verb stays in base form.
subject + am/is/are + not + complementWith be, add not directly after am, is, or are. Do not use do/does.
Build a sentence
Subject
Verb / complement
Shedoesnotlike
She does not like coffee.
With she, use does not. The main verb stays bare.
When to use
Say no to a fact
Use a negative sentence when something is false. Maria is not at home. Tom did not call.
Talk about routines
Use do not or does not to say a routine does not happen. Anna does not drink coffee in the morning.
Talk about the past
Use did not to say an action did not happen before now. We did not finish the report yesterday.
Markers
do notdoes notdid notis notare notam not
Spelling
negative with auxiliary
→ auxiliary + notis + not → is notafter does not
→ base verblikes → likeafter did not
→ base verbwent → goCommon mistakes
Wrong
She not like tea.
Correct
She does not like tea.
With most action verbs, not needs do, does, or did.
Wrong
Maria does not works here.
Correct
Maria does not work here.
After does not, the main verb stays in base form.
Wrong
Tom did not went home.
Correct
Tom did not go home.
Did already shows the past, so the main verb returns to base form.
Wrong
Anna does not be late.
Correct
Anna is not late.
Be makes its own negative: am not, is not, are not.
Common misconceptions
❝ Every negative sentence needs do not or does not. ❞
Be does not use do in negatives. Say is not tired, not does not be tired.
❝ I can put not anywhere in the sentence if the meaning is clear. ❞
In basic negatives, not goes after the auxiliary: do not, is not, did not.
Skills in this rule (5)
PUT_NOT_AFTER_AUXILIARYw5Put not after the auxiliary to make a sentence negative
Use not with an auxiliary like is, do, does, or did to say something is not true. The auxiliary comes before not.
USE_DO_DOES_DID_FOR_ACTION_VERBSw5Use do, does, or did with not for action verbs
With most action verbs, build the negative with do not, does not, or did not. Choose does for he, she, it in the present, did for the past, and keep the main verb in base form.
USE_BE_PLUS_NOTw5Use am not, is not, or are not with be
When the verb is be, make the negative directly with am not, is not, or are not. Do not add do or does.
KEEP_MAIN_VERB_BASE_AFTER_DO_NOTw4Keep the main verb in base form after do not, does not, and did not
After do not, does not, and did not, the main verb does not change. No -s, no past ending.
RECOGNIZE_COMMON_NEGATIVE_PATTERNSw3Recognize common negative patterns with not
Notice frequent negative forms like do not, does not, did not, and is not. These patterns signal a basic negative sentence.