for English Language Learners (ELL) – those learning to speak English as a Second Language (ESL), or English as an Additional Language (EAL)

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The Verb DO

The verb do is important to learn at the BEGINNER level.

One of the reasons the verb do is important to learn is because it works as a main verb, and as a helping (or auxiliary) verb in English.

Lesson 16 – Using the verb do as a HELPING VERB in Negative Statements – Contracted

CONTRACTIONS

The verb do + not can be contracted* or shortened.

Practice using the verb do in negative statements with contractions.

Notice how in the contracted form, a vowel is removed and an apostrophe is put in the place of the removed vowel.

HELPING VERB (DO) – NEGATIVE – CONTRACTED

Basic Sentence Structure

SUBJECT + Helping VERB+NOT (contracted) + Main VERB + OBJECT

1st person – singular

I don’t need help.

1st person – plural

We don’t need rain.

2nd person – singular or plural

You don’t need trouble.

3rd person – singular

He | She | It doesn’t need food.

3rd person – plural

They don’t need haircuts.

TEST YOURSELF

Instructions: Use the contracted form of the verb do + not to answer each question.

*PRONUNCIATION TIP

Some words can be used as verbs or nouns. Typically, the verb is stressed on the second syllable (e.g., con-TRACT) and the noun is stressed on the first syllable (e.g., CON-tract).

e.g., The verb do is con-TRACT-ed.

Contraction is a noun. When a noun ends in -tion (pronounced as shun), the stress is typically on the syllable before tion. So, contraction is pronounced con-TRAC-tion.