Verbs Ending with ‘S’ in Negative Sentences: An Easy Guide

Understanding how to form negative sentences with verbs ending in ‘s’ is crucial for accurate and fluent English. This grammar point often trips up learners, leading to common errors in both speaking and writing.

This guide provides a comprehensive explanation of the rules, exceptions, and practical examples to help you master this aspect of English grammar. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this article will clarify the nuances of using ‘s’ verbs in negative constructions.

Table of Contents

Definition: Verbs Ending in ‘S’ in Negative Sentences

In English, verbs ending in ‘s’ are typically used in the present simple tense for the third-person singular subject (he, she, it). When forming negative sentences in the present simple tense, we use the auxiliary verb “does” (for third-person singular) followed by “not” (or the contraction “doesn’t”) and the base form of the main verb. The ‘s’ ending is removed from the main verb in the negative form. This is because the auxiliary verb ‘does’ already indicates the tense and subject agreement.

For example, consider the affirmative sentence, “He eats apples.” The negative form is “He does not eat apples” or “He doesn’t eat apples.” Notice that the ‘s’ is dropped from ‘eats’ in the negative sentence, and the base form ‘eat’ is used.

Understanding this rule is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences and avoiding common errors. The function of ‘does’ is to act as a helper verb which carries the tense and subject agreement, allowing the main verb to remain in its simplest form.

Structural Breakdown

The structure of negative sentences with verbs ending in ‘s’ follows a specific pattern. The standard structure is:

Subject + Does + Not + Base Form of Verb + (Object/Complement)

Let’s break this down:

  • Subject: The person or thing performing the action (e.g., he, she, it, the cat).
  • Does: The auxiliary verb used for the third-person singular in the present simple tense.
  • Not: The negation particle, which can be contracted with ‘does’ to form ‘doesn’t’.
  • Base Form of Verb: The simplest form of the verb, without any endings (e.g., eat, run, play).
  • Object/Complement: The part of the sentence that receives the action or provides more information about the subject (e.g., apples, quickly, happy).

Here’s a visual representation:

Subject Auxiliary Verb Negation Base Verb Object/Complement
She Does Not Sing Loudly
He Doesn’t Play The piano
It Does Not Rain Often

The contraction ‘doesn’t’ is a common and acceptable way to shorten “does not” in both spoken and written English, particularly in informal contexts. Using the full form, “does not,” can add emphasis or formality.

Types and Categories of Verbs

Verbs ending in ‘s’ are primarily associated with the present simple tense and the third-person singular subject. There are various categories of verbs that can take the ‘s’ ending, depending on their function and meaning.

Here’s a breakdown:

Action Verbs

These verbs describe physical or mental actions. For example: runs, eats, thinks, writes, plays, dances.

Stative Verbs

These verbs describe states of being, emotions, or possessions. For example: likes, believes, seems, owns, hates, needs.

Auxiliary Verbs

While ‘does’ itself is an auxiliary verb, it’s crucial for forming negative sentences with other verbs. The main verb will always be an action or stative verb.

Example: She *does* not *want* to go. Here ‘want’ is the main verb.

Regular vs. Irregular Verbs

Most verbs are regular, meaning they follow a predictable pattern when adding ‘s’. Irregular verbs, however, may have different forms.

Even with irregular verbs, the base form is used in negative sentences. For example: He goes to school (affirmative).

He does not go to school (negative).

Examples

Let’s explore various examples of verbs ending in ‘s’ used in negative sentences. The following tables will provide specific examples, categorized by verb type and sentence structure, to illustrate the concepts discussed.

Action Verbs Examples

Here are examples of action verbs in negative sentences. Note that the ‘s’ ending is removed, and the base verb is used with ‘does not’ or ‘doesn’t’.

Affirmative Sentence Negative Sentence
He runs fast. He does not run fast.
She eats apples. She doesn’t eat apples.
It jumps high. It does not jump high.
The dog barks loudly. The dog doesn’t bark loudly.
The bird sings sweetly. The bird does not sing sweetly.
He writes stories. He doesn’t write stories.
She plays the piano. She does not play the piano.
It dances gracefully. It doesn’t dance gracefully.
The sun shines brightly. The sun does not shine brightly.
The wind blows softly. The wind doesn’t blow softly.
He kicks the ball. He does not kick the ball.
She catches the bus. She doesn’t catch the bus.
It moves quickly. It does not move quickly.
The baby cries often. The baby doesn’t cry often.
The clock ticks loudly. The clock does not tick loudly.
He reads books. He doesn’t read books.
She watches TV. She does not watch TV.
It grows fast. It doesn’t grow fast.
The car stops suddenly. The car does not stop suddenly.
The river flows smoothly. The river doesn’t flow smoothly.
He builds houses. He does not build houses.
She draws pictures. She doesn’t draw pictures.
It breaks easily. It does not break easily.
The computer works perfectly. The computer doesn’t work perfectly.
The phone rings loudly. The phone does not ring loudly.

Stative Verbs Examples

Stative verbs describe states, feelings, or conditions. Here are examples of stative verbs in negative sentences.

Affirmative Sentence Negative Sentence
He likes ice cream. He does not like ice cream.
She believes in ghosts. She doesn’t believe in ghosts.
It seems strange. It does not seem strange.
The company owns several buildings. The company doesn’t own several buildings.
He hates spiders. He does not hate spiders.
She needs help. She doesn’t need help.
It appears correct. It does not appear correct.
The child wants a toy. The child doesn’t want a toy.
He knows the answer. He does not know the answer.
She understands the problem. She doesn’t understand the problem.
It contains sugar. It does not contain sugar.
The food tastes good. The food doesn’t taste good.
He prefers coffee. He does not prefer coffee.
She remembers her childhood. She doesn’t remember her childhood.
It includes instructions. It does not include instructions.
The house costs a lot. The house doesn’t cost a lot.
He doubts the story. He does not doubt the story.
She fears the dark. She doesn’t fear the dark.
It matters to him. It does not matter to him.
The project requires funding. The project doesn’t require funding.
He deserves respect. He does not deserve respect.
She possesses great talent. She doesn’t possess great talent.
It depends on the weather. It does not depend on the weather.
The plan involves risks. The plan doesn’t involve risks.
He imagines things. He does not imagine things.

Examples with Different Subjects

The following examples illustrate negative sentences with various third-person singular subjects. This highlights how the rule applies regardless of the specific subject.

Subject Affirmative Sentence Negative Sentence
The cat The cat sleeps all day. The cat does not sleep all day.
My brother My brother plays video games. My brother doesn’t play video games.
The computer The computer works efficiently. The computer does not work efficiently.
His car His car runs smoothly. His car doesn’t run smoothly.
The company The company makes profits. The company does not make profits.
Her dog Her dog barks at strangers. Her dog doesn’t bark at strangers.
The movie The movie starts at 8 PM. The movie does not start at 8 PM.
This book This book contains useful information. This book doesn’t contain useful information.
The weather The weather feels warm today. The weather does not feel warm today.
The train The train arrives on time. The train doesn’t arrive on time.
The restaurant The restaurant serves delicious food. The restaurant does not serve delicious food.
The flower The flower smells sweet. The flower doesn’t smell sweet.
The machine The machine operates automatically. The machine does not operate automatically.
Her sister Her sister sings beautifully. Her sister doesn’t sing beautifully.
The project The project requires careful planning. The project does not require careful planning.
The program The program runs smoothly. The program doesn’t run smoothly.
The result The result shows improvement. The result does not show improvement.
The solution The solution seems effective. The solution doesn’t seem effective.
The system The system works perfectly. The system does not work perfectly.
The website The website loads quickly. The website doesn’t load quickly.
The application The application runs smoothly. The application does not run smoothly.
The team The team works hard. The team doesn’t work hard.
The task The task requires focus. The task does not require focus.
The plan The plan makes sense. The plan doesn’t make sense.
The method The method works well. The method does not work well.

Usage Rules

The primary rule is to use “does not” or “doesn’t” with the base form of the verb when forming negative sentences in the present simple tense with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it). This ensures correct subject-verb agreement and tense usage.

  • Rule 1: Always use “does not” or “doesn’t” for negative sentences with he, she, and it in the present simple.
  • Rule 2: Remove the ‘s’ ending from the main verb when using “does not” or “doesn’t.”
  • Rule 3: Ensure the subject is third-person singular (he, she, it) for this rule to apply.

Here’s a table summarizing the rules:

Rule Description Example
Use “does not” or “doesn’t” For he, she, it in negative present simple sentences. He doesn’t eat meat.
Remove ‘s’ from the verb Use the base form of the verb. She does not play tennis.
Third-Person Singular This rule applies only to he, she, and it. It doesn’t rain often.

Common Mistakes

One of the most common mistakes is failing to remove the ‘s’ ending from the main verb when using “does not” or “doesn’t.” Another frequent error is using “do not” or “don’t” with third-person singular subjects.

Here are some common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect Sentence Correct Sentence Explanation
He doesn’t eats apples. He doesn’t eat apples. The ‘s’ should be removed from ‘eats’.
She don’t like coffee. She doesn’t like coffee. Use ‘doesn’t’ with third-person singular.
It do not rains often. It does not rain often. Use ‘does not’ with ‘it’.
The dog don’t bark. The dog doesn’t bark. ‘The dog’ is third-person singular, so use ‘doesn’t’.
My sister don’t sings. My sister doesn’t sing. Use ‘doesn’t’ and remove ‘s’ from ‘sings’.

Avoiding these mistakes will significantly improve the accuracy of your English.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with these practice exercises. Convert the following affirmative sentences into negative sentences.

Exercise 1

Question Answer
1. He plays football. He doesn’t play football.
2. She likes chocolate. She doesn’t like chocolate.
3. It rains a lot here. It doesn’t rain a lot here.
4. The cat sleeps on the bed. The cat doesn’t sleep on the bed.
5. My brother watches TV. My brother doesn’t watch TV.
6. The computer works well. The computer doesn’t work well.
7. His car runs smoothly. His car doesn’t run smoothly.
8. The company makes a profit. The company doesn’t make a profit.
9. Her dog barks loudly. Her dog doesn’t bark loudly.
10. The movie starts at 7 PM. The movie doesn’t start at 7 PM.

Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks with the correct negative form of the verb (doesn’t + base form).

Question Answer
1. She ______ (eat) meat. She doesn’t eat meat.
2. He ______ (like) vegetables. He doesn’t like vegetables.
3. It ______ (snow) in summer. It doesn’t snow in summer.
4. The bird ______ (fly) at night. The bird doesn’t fly at night.
5. My sister ______ (sing) opera. My sister doesn’t sing opera.
6. The sun ______ (shine) at midnight. The sun doesn’t shine at midnight.
7. The clock ______ (tick) loudly. The clock doesn’t tick loudly.
8. The train ______ (stop) here. The train doesn’t stop here.
9. The baby ______ (cry) often. The baby doesn’t cry often.
10. The car ______ (move) fast. The car doesn’t move fast.

Exercise 3

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.

Incorrect Sentence Correct Sentence
1. He don’t plays tennis. He doesn’t play tennis.
2. She doesn’t likes coffee. She doesn’t like coffee.
3. It do not rains much. It does not rain much.
4. The dog don’t barks loudly. The dog doesn’t bark loudly.
5. My brother doesn’t watches TV. My brother doesn’t watch TV.
6. The computer don’t works well. The computer doesn’t work well.
7. His car do not runs smoothly. His car does not run smoothly.
8. The company don’t makes profit. The company doesn’t make profit.
9. Her dog do not barks often. Her dog does not bark often.
10. The movie don’t starts early. The movie doesn’t start early.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, let’s delve into some more complex aspects of using verbs ending in ‘s’ in negative sentences. This includes the use of emphatic “do” and the nuances of using “does” in questions.

Emphatic “Do”

While “does” is primarily used for forming negative and interrogative sentences, it can also be used for emphasis in affirmative sentences. For example, “He *does* like coffee,” emphasizes that he indeed likes coffee, despite any contrary suggestions.

The negative form remains unchanged, but the emphasis is lost.

“Does” in Questions

When forming questions in the present simple tense with third-person singular subjects, “does” is used as an auxiliary verb. The structure is: Does + Subject + Base Form of Verb + (Object/Complement)?

For example: “Does she speak French?” The verb ‘speak’ remains in its base form, just as in negative sentences.

Negative Questions

We can also form negative questions using “doesn’t.” For example: “Doesn’t she like chocolate?” This can express surprise or seek confirmation. The structure is: Doesn’t + Subject + Base Form of Verb + (Object/Complement)?

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about verbs ending in ‘s’ in negative sentences.

  1. Why do we use “does” in negative sentences with he, she, and it?

    We use “does” because it’s the auxiliary verb that agrees with the third-person singular subjects (he, she, it) in the present simple tense. It carries the tense and subject agreement, allowing the main verb to remain in its base form.

  2. Why do we remove the ‘s’ from the verb in negative sentences?

    The ‘s’ is removed because the auxiliary verb “does” already indicates that the subject is third-person singular and that the tense is present simple. Adding ‘s’ to the main verb would be redundant and grammatically incorrect.

  3. Can I always use contractions like “doesn’t”?

    Yes, “doesn’t” is a common and acceptable contraction for “does not” in both spoken and written English. However, in very formal writing, it’s generally preferred to use the full form, “does not.”

  4. What happens if I forget to remove the ‘s’ from the verb in a negative sentence?

    If you forget to remove the ‘s’ from the verb, the sentence will be grammatically incorrect. For example, “He doesn’t eats apples” is incorrect; the correct form is “He doesn’t eat apples.”

  5. Is this rule the same for all verbs?

    Yes, this rule applies to all verbs used in the present simple tense with third-person singular subjects. Whether the verb is regular or irregular, the ‘s’ ending is removed in negative sentences when using “does not” or “doesn’t.”

  6. What if the subject is a noun, not a pronoun?

    If the subject is a singular noun that can be replaced by he, she, or it, the same rule applies. For example, “The cat doesn’t sleep on the bed” because “the cat” can be replaced by “it.”

  7. How do I form negative questions using ‘does’?

    To form negative questions, use “doesn’t” followed by the subject and the base form of the verb. For example, “Doesn’t she like chocolate?” or “Doesn’t he play the piano?”

  8. Are there any exceptions to this rule?

    There are no exceptions to this rule when forming negative sentences in the present simple tense with third-person singular subjects. Always remember to use “does not” or “doesn’t” and the base form of the verb.

Conclusion

Mastering the use of verbs ending in ‘s’ in negative sentences is essential for accurate and fluent English communication. By understanding the basic structure, usage rules, and common mistakes, you can significantly improve your grammar skills.

Remember to always use “does not” or “doesn’t” with third-person singular subjects and remove the ‘s’ ending from the main verb.

Practice regularly with different types of verbs and subjects to solidify your understanding. Pay attention to the examples provided and complete the exercises to reinforce your learning.

With consistent effort, you’ll be able to confidently construct grammatically correct negative sentences in English.

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