Learning About “Have/Has,” “Do/Does,” and “Don’t/Doesn’t”

Today, we’re going to tackle some of the most common and useful words in the English language: have/has, do/does, and don’t/doesn’t. These little words might seem tricky at first, but with a little practice, you’ll be using them like a pro!

Why Are These Words So Important?

“Have/Has” helps us talk about possession (what someone owns) or experiences. “Do/Does” is vital for asking questions and making negative statements. Mastering these words is a foundational step to building clear and correct English sentences. Native speakers use them all the time, so understanding them will significantly improve your listening and speaking skills!

1. Have vs. Has: What You Own and What You’ve Experienced

“Have” and “has” are both forms of the verb “to have.” We use them to show possession (that something belongs to someone) or to talk about experiences and characteristics. The key difference is who you are talking about!

Who uses “Have”?

We use have with:

• I (first person singular)
• You (second person singular and plural)
• We (first person plural)
• They (third person plural)
• Plural nouns (e.g., “the students,” “my friends”)

Who uses “Has”?

We use has with:

• He (third person singular male)
• She (third person singular female)
• It (third person singular neutral/object)
• Singular nouns (e.g., “the dog,” “my sister,” “John”)

Let’s See Some Examples!

Chart for “Have” vs. “Has”

We speak using first person, second person and third person pronouns.  Here is a definition of the different Persons:

This is an example of a conversation using all three Persons:

2. Do vs. Does: Asking Questions and Making Negatives

“Do” and “does” are forms of the verb “to do.” We use them as auxiliary verbs (also called “helping verbs”) to:

• Ask questions.
• Form negative sentences.
• Emphasize a verb (less common for beginners, but good to know!).

Just like “have” and “has,” the choice between “do” and “does” depends on the subject.

Who uses “Do”?

We use do with:

• I
• You
• We
• They
• Plural nouns

Who uses “Does”?

We use does with:

• He
• She
• It
• Singular nouns

Examples: Asking Questions with “Do/Does”

When forming a question with “do” or “does,” remember this pattern:

Do/Does + Subject + Main Verb (base form) + Rest of the sentence?

Notice that the main verb always stays in its base form (e.g., “go,” “eat,” “play,” not “goes,” “eats,” “plays”).

Examples: Making Negative Statements with “Do/Does”

When making a negative statement, we use “do not” (don’t) or “does not” (doesn’t). The main verb also stays in its base form.

Subject + Do/Does + not + Main Verb (base form) + Rest of the sentence.

Chart for “Do” vs. “Does”

Examples:

• I have a dog.
• She has a dog.
• I don’t have a dog.
• She doesn’t have a dog
• My dog (it) has four legs.
• It doesn’t have blue hair.
• Do you have a dog? – Yes, I have a dog. or No I don’t have a dog.
• Does your dog run fast? – Yes, my dog funs fast.
• Does she have a dog? – No, she doesn’t have a dog

3. Don’t vs. Doesn’t: The Short and Sweet Negatives

“Don’t” and “doesn’t” are simply contractions of “do not” and “does not.” Contractions are very common in spoken English and informal writing.

• Don’t = Do not
• Doesn’t = Does not

The rules for when to use “don’t” or “doesn’t” are exactly the same as for “do not” and “does not.”

When to use “Don’t”?

• I don’t like spiders.
• You don’t understand.
• We don’t have much time.
• They don’t live here anymore.
• My friends don’t watch that show.

When to use “Doesn’t”?

• He doesn’t eat meat.
• She doesn’t speak Spanish.
• It doesn’t matter.
• My dog doesn’t bark much.

Examples: “Don’t” and “Doesn’t” in Action

Additional Helpful Content: Common Mistakes and Tips

• Remember the Base Form! A very common mistake is to change the main verb when using “do/does/don’t/doesn’t.” For example, don’t say “Does he likes pizza?” It should be “Does he like pizza?”
• “Have” with “Do/Does”: You can even use “do/does” to ask questions or make negatives with “have.”
  • Do you have a pet? (Correct!)
  • Does she have a brother? (Correct!)
  • He doesn’t have time. (Correct!)
  • (Not: “Does she has a brother?” or “He doesn’t has time.”)
• Practice Makes Perfect! The best way to master these words is to use them! Try writing your own sentences, asking questions to a friend, or even talking to yourself in English.

Quiz Time! (Self-Assessment)

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence:

1. I ______ a big family. (have / has)
2. ______ she live in New York? (Do / Does)
3. We ______ understand the question. (don’t / doesn’t)
4. My brother ______ a new phone. (have / has)
5. ______ they like to read? (Do / Does)
6. The dog ______ eat vegetables. (don’t / doesn’t)

Quiz Answers:

1. have
2. Does
3. don’t
4. has
5. Do
6. doesn’t

You’re in the right place! Understanding “have/has,” “do/does,” and “don’t/doesn’t” is super important for anyone learning English. Don’t worry, we’ll break it down with lots of examples and charts to make it easy for you.

Additional helpful information

Using Do or Does to form simple English questions – Do and Does: Simple English Questions for Beginners

Study English Modal Verbs, English Possibility – English Modal Verbs: ‘May,’ ‘Might,’ ‘Could’: English Possibility

External Links for Authoritative Sources

For more in-depth explanations and additional practice, check out these reputable English learning resources:

• British Council LearnEnglish: A fantastic resource with clear explanations and exercises for all levels.
  • Do, Does, Did – LearnEnglish – British Council
  • Have or Has – LearnEnglish – British Council
• Grammarly Blog: Offers helpful articles on various grammar topics.
  • When to Use Do vs. Does: What’s the Difference? – Grammarly
  • Has vs. Have: Everything You Need to Know – Grammarly