English Reference

Word

doesn

Definition

v. the short way to write 'does not'. You use it to make a negative sentence when talking about one person or thing.

v. the contracted form of 'does not'. Used with third-person singular subjects to form negative statements or questions in the present simple tense.

Examples

“He doesn't like coffee.”

“The new software doesn't work on older computers, so we need to upgrade our hardware.”

“Although the theory seems sound in a laboratory setting, it doesn't necessarily translate to real-world applications where environmental variables are harder to control.”

Examples

simple

“He doesn't like coffee.”

contextual

“The new software doesn't work on older computers, so we need to upgrade our hardware.”

complex

“Although the theory seems sound in a laboratory setting, it doesn't necessarily translate to real-world applications where environmental variables are harder to control.”

Usage

Used with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it, or a singular noun). Followed by the base form of the main verb without 's'.

Pitfall

He doesn't likes apples.

He doesn't like apples.

After 'doesn't', the main verb must be in its base form without an 's'.

This entry

Level
A1 · Beginner
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/doesn

English Reference