Don't, Doesn't, Singular, Plural, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Person Subjects

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Question

When should I use don't and doesn't? I ____ like apples. My friend ____ eat fish. This college ____ have a sports hall. Ahmed and Natasha ____ live in Sharjah. The university ____ need lazy students. Her parents ____ let her go to the mall alone. — L., Oman

Answer

Use "doesn't" with a 3rd person singular subject. With all other subjects use "don't." Below is a table showing this:

	singular	plural
1st person	I don't	we don't
2nd person	you don't	you (all) don't
3rd person	he/she/it doesn't	they don't

First, identify which person and number each subject is:

I (1st person singular) ____ like apples.
My friend (3rd person singular) ____ eat fish.
This college (3rd person singular) ____ have a sports hall.
Ahmed and Natasha (3rd person plural) ____ live in Sharjah.
The university (3rd person singular) ____ need lazy students.
Her parents (3rd person plural) ____ let her go to the mall alone.

Now match the subject with the correct verb form:

I don't like apples.
My friend doesn't eat fish.
This college doesn't have a sports hall.
Ahmed and Natasha don't live in Sharjah.
The university doesn't need lazy students.
Her parents don't let her go to the mall alone.

I hope this helps.

Learn more about don't and doesn't here.

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