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Don't or Doesn't? Which is correct?
Question
When should I use don't and doesn't? For example, is it "he don't like ice cream" or "he doesn't like ice cream?"
—
Learners Everywhere
Answer
"He doesn't like ice cream" is correct.
When choosing between don't and doesn't it is important to remember that don't is a contraction of do and not, and doesn't is a contraction of does and not.
Then the choice between do and does depends on its subject. Use does with third person singular subjects (he, she, it, that, John, Kim, a cat). Use do with everything else (I, we, you, they, y'all, my parents, the shoes, people).
This chart shows when to use do and when to use does:
|
|
singular |
plural |
|
first person |
I do |
We do |
|
second person |
You do |
You (all) do |
|
third person |
He does, She does, It does, Mary does |
They do, your friends do |
Don't and doesn't follow the same pattern:
|
|
singular |
plural |
|
first person |
I don't |
We don't |
|
second person |
You don't |
You (all) don't |
|
third person |
He doesn't, She doesn't, It doesn't, Tim doesn't |
They don't, the kittens don't |
I hope this helps.
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