Practice
Didn't and don't: use present and past negatives correctly
Sign in to saveI don't take the bus on Mondays. I didn't take it yesterday. The verb stays take, but the time changes the negative word.
Choose don't for a present simple negative and didn't for a past simple negative, then use the base verb after either form.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
I don't know, and I didn't ask. /aɪ dəʊnt nəʊ, ən aɪ ˈdɪdnt ɑːsk/
The short answer
Use don't when the negative is about the present. Use didn't when it is about the past. After don't or didn't, use the base verb, such as go, call, or eat.
We don't meet on Fridays, but we didn't meet last Friday either.
Why it works: Don't describes the usual schedule. Didn't describes one past Friday. Meet is the base verb in both parts.
5 more examples
-
I don't drink coffee after lunch.
The sentence describes a present habit, so it uses don't and the base verb drink.
Not this:I
didn't drinkcoffee after lunch yesterday. What changes: Yesterday makes the meaning past, so use didn't with the base verb drink. -
We don't need a taxi today.
We is a present simple subject that takes don't.
Not this:We
didn't needa taxi after the concert. What changes: The concert is a finished past event, so use didn't. -
They don't live near the station.
The sentence states a present fact about where they live.
Not this:They
didn't livenear the station last year. What changes: Last year places the negative fact in the past. -
I don't remember the meeting time.
The speaker has this problem now, so don't is correct.
Not this:I
didn't rememberthe meeting time yesterday. What changes: Yesterday changes the meaning to the past. -
You don't have to bring a paper copy.
This present instruction says that a paper copy is not necessary.
Not this:You
didn't have tobring a paper copy yesterday. What changes: Didn't have to says the paper copy was not necessary for a past occasion.
Read the full guide
First find the time. If the sentence is about now, a habit, or a usual fact, choose don't with I, you, we, or they. If it is about a finished time in the past, choose didn't. Then check the next verb: it must stay in its base form.
Choose the negative by time
Start with the time in the sentence. Use don't for the present, including habits and facts. Use didn't for a finished time in the past.
I don't work on Saturdays.
The schedule is true now, so the sentence uses don't.
I didn't work last Saturday.
Last Saturday is a finished past time, so the sentence uses didn't.
Which word fits a sentence about yesterday?
Use didn't when the action or situation belongs to the past.
Use don't with I, you, we, and they
In present simple negatives, use don't with I, you, we, and they. These subjects can name people, things, or groups.
We don't start class before nine.
We is plural, so it takes don't in the present simple.
They don't watch television during dinner.
They also takes don't because the sentence is present simple.
Choose the form: I don't or I didn't usually cook at home?
Use I don't usually cook at home for a present habit.
Use didn't for every past simple subject
Didn't does not change with the subject. Use it with I, you, he, she, it, we, and they when the negative meaning is in the past.
She didn't answer the phone this morning.
She is singular, but past simple negatives still use didn't.
The lights didn't work during the storm.
The lights is plural, and the form is still didn't.
Does the subject change didn't to a different past negative form?
No. Didn't stays the same for all subjects in the past simple.
Keep the next verb in the base form
After don't and didn't, use the base form of the main verb. The helping word already gives the negative meaning and, with didn't, the past time.
They didn't arrive early.
Arrive is the base form. Do not add ed after didn't.
I don't speak Italian.
Speak is also a base form after don't.
Do not write She didn't went home. Write She didn't go home.
Use doesn't for he, she, it, and one person now
Don't is not the present simple negative form for he, she, it, or one singular person. Use doesn't with those subjects, then keep the main verb in its base form.
My brother doesn't like spicy food.
My brother is one person, so the present form is doesn't, not don't.
The bus doesn't stop here after midnight.
The bus is singular, so it also takes doesn't.
Which present negative fits Mia: don't or doesn't?
Use doesn't: Mia doesn't need a ticket.
Check a negative instruction separately
An instruction can begin with don't, but this use is different from a statement about a present habit. The subject is usually understood as you.
Don't leave the window open.
The speaker tells the listener not to do something. This is an instruction.
You don't leave the window open in winter.
This sentence describes a present habit, so it has the subject you.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose don't for present simple negatives with I, you, we, and they. Choose didn't for past simple negatives with any subject. After either word, use the base verb. For a present simple negative with he, she, it, or one person, use doesn't.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Didn't and don't: use present and past negatives correctly"
What is the difference between don't and didn't?
Don't is a present simple negative with I, you, we, and they. Didn't is a past simple negative with any subject. Compare I don't drink coffee after lunch with I didn't drink coffee after lunch yesterday.
I don't drink coffee after lunch.
Why is the verb not in the past form after didn't?
Didn't already shows that the sentence is negative and past. Use the base verb after it. Say They didn't arrive early, not They didn't arrived early.
I didn't drink coffee after lunch yesterday.
Can I use don't with he or she?
No. In a present simple negative, he, she, it, and one singular person use doesn't. Say My brother doesn't like spicy food. Use don't with I, you, we, and they.
We don't need a taxi today.
Does didn't change with the subject?
No. Didn't has the same form with every subject in a past simple negative. She didn't answer the phone and The lights didn't work during the storm use the same helping word.
We didn't need a taxi after the concert.
Can don't begin an instruction?
Yes. Don't can begin a negative instruction, such as Don't leave the window open. That form tells someone not to do something. It is different from a present simple statement such as You don't leave the window open in winter.
They don't live near the station.