THE ENGLISH APOSTROPHE ( ' )-3

Good morning..

Yesterday we saw how the negative verb marker not often contracts with the verb BE. To make sentences negative that do not have (don't have) the verb BE in them, we need the auxiliaries DO or HAVE.

I DO NOT = I DON'T
YOU DO NOT = YOU DON'T
HE DOES NOT = HE DOESN'T
SHE DOES NOT = SHE DOESN'T
IT DOES NOT= IT DOESN'T
WE DO NOT = WE DON'T
THEY DO NOT = THEY DON'T

Consider the following examples:

a) Rachel does not live in Canada --> Rachel doesn't live in Canada.

b) Unfortunately, we do not study English every day. --> Unfortunately, we don't study English every day.

In negative sentences with the auxiliary have the situation is similar:

I HAVE NOT = I HAVEN'T
YOU HAVE NOT = YOU HAVEN'T
HE HAS NOT = HE HASN'T
SHE HAS NOT = SHE HASN'T
IT HAS NOT= IT HASN'T
WE HAVE NOT = WE HAVEN'T
THEY HAVE NOT = THEY HAVEN'T

Have is used to form the present perfect in English.

c) I have not been to Canada. --> I haven't been to Canada.

d) He has not studied English today. --> He hasn't studied English today.

Tomorrow we'll finish this brief review of contractions by looking at how they are formed with MODAL VERBS. This topic, suggested by Eva, is more complicated than I thought. ;-)

If you have questions about the use of contractions with the auxiliaries DO and HAVE, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes,