kiwik Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 The lesson ds7 did yesterday was about when to use don't and doesn't. I know when to use them but never thought about why. So ds wants to know why if you use doesn't for singular and don't for plural why we say I don't not I doesn't? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyforlatin Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 It's kind of like Spanish when you meet an irregular verb. Here's a list, http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/irregular-verbs/irregular-verb-list.pdf I'm sure someone will explain the reason other than it being an irregular verb. ETA: Maybe AG explains it better but I'm out of town right now - will check on Monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Simplest and best answer is that it's actually an irregular verb :) English is my 2nd language so I had to memorize all these suckers... http://conjugator.reverso.net/conjugation-english-verb-do.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 It's not because it's irregular. It's because in the present tense in English the verb only changes in the *third person* singular. ETA for more detail now that I'm not on my phone. Let's take a completely regular present tense verb: SINGULAR PLURAL I sit we sit you sit you (all) sit he/she/it sits they sit The only thing that makes 'do' irregular is that an 'es' instead of just an 's' gets added to the stem in the third person. Because 'dos' would be silly. I'm guessing the almost complete lack of teaching about verbs in English is because of this - there's virtually nothing going on except in the third person singular, and even then just in the present tense. But I still think they should teach about conjugations and tenses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted October 18, 2014 Author Share Posted October 18, 2014 Right I will try that in this case it is only doesn't for he/she/it and that is just part of our exciting language. He knows which to use by sound (like I do) so it was just curiousity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 The lesson ds7 did yesterday was about when to use don't and doesn't. I know when to use them but never thought about why. So ds wants to know why if you use doesn't for singular and don't for plural why we say I don't not I doesn't? It isn't only singular and plural, though. I do not. You do not. I don't, you don't. "I" is not plural; "you" can be singular or plural. There must be some rule in there about the subject and number. :-) At any rate, you still have to go back to the pre-contraction word, right? If you would write/say "do not," then you contract it "don't." If you would write/say "does not," then you write/say "doesn't." None of the grammar materials I have used explained don't/don't usage on their being singular or plural. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 It isn't only singular and plural, though. I do not. You do not. I don't, you don't. "I" is not plural; "you" can be singular or plural. There must be some rule in there about the subject and number. :-) At any rate, you still have to go back to the pre-contraction word, right? If you would write/say "do not," then you contract it "don't." If you would write/say "does not," then you write/say "doesn't." None of the grammar materials I have used explained don't/don't usage on their being singular or plural. Read my post above. I explained it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted October 18, 2014 Author Share Posted October 18, 2014 Yes. I think I wasn't paying much attention to the video. The day before at been subject/verb agreement for singular and plural. I think he just transferred some info over and got his wires (and mine) crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Read my post above. I explained it. too many words for me. Sorry, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 too many words for me. Sorry, lol. ... says the Spalding read-the-manual-several-times guru. :lol: Come on, Ellie. It wasn't too many words for me & my eyes go crossed whenever I have to think on here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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