# don't

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dont
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. negative auxiliary

verb · CEFR A1

the short way to say 'do not'.

For teachers: the contracted form of 'do not', used as a negative auxiliary verb in the present simple tense.

- I don't want any sugar in my tea, thank you.
- Most residents in this area don't support the new construction project because of the noise it will generate at night.

### 2. negative command

verb · CEFR A1

used to tell someone not to do something.

For teachers: used as a negative imperative to issue a prohibition or command.

- Don't forget to lock the door when you leave the house.
- Don't underestimate the complexity of the task, as it requires significant attention to detail and patience.

### 3. things to avoid

noun · CEFR B1

things that you should not do in a specific situation.

For teachers: a prohibition or a rule against a specific action, almost exclusively used in the plural phrase 'dos and don'ts'.

- The teacher gave us a list of dos and don'ts for the school trip.
- The orientation handbook includes a comprehensive list of the cultural dos and don'ts for expatriates moving to the region.

## Examples

- Please don't walk on the grass.
- I don't think we have enough time to finish the project before the meeting starts.
- While formal reports usually require the full form 'do not', most writers don't hesitate to use contractions in personal correspondence to maintain a natural, conversational tone.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.