Short forms and long forms in the Present Simple
How to use short/contracted forms with the Present Simple?
We often use short/contracted forms of auxiliaries in spoken English. The Present Simple is formed with a main verb, so short/contracted forms are only used in the negative forms.
1. Affirmative forms
| Pronouns | Long forms | Contracted forms |
|---|---|---|
| I | I play | not possible |
| you | you play | |
| he, she, it | he plays | |
| we, you, they | they play |
2. Negative forms
| Pronouns | Long forms | Contracted forms |
|---|---|---|
| I | I do not play | I don’t play |
| you | you do not play | you don’t play |
| he, she, it | he does not play | he doesn’t play |
| we, you, they | they do not play | they don’t play |