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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Third-person singular possessive (doesn't vs don't)
Hello,
I am having a little difficulty understanding which one of the two to use when a third-person singular possessive pronoun is used.
For example,
Even if they do their best, if his memories don't/doesn't return, then...
I know that "doesn't" should be used for third-person singular subjects, so I am thinking that "don't" should be used here.
His bed don't/doesn't look comfortable to me.
Again, if my understanding is correct, "don't" should be used here, right?
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
I am having a little difficulty understanding which one of the two to use when a third-person singular possessive pronoun is used.
For example,
Even if they do their best, if his memories don't/doesn't return, then...
I know that "doesn't" should be used for third-person singular subjects, so I am thinking that "don't" should be used here.
His bed don't/doesn't look comfortable to me.
Again, if my understanding is correct, "don't" should be used here, right?
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Top answer
g. g. g.
- g.
- g.
- g.
- g.
- "memories", "beds").
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1 Answers
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For third-person subjects, use the singular verb form (e.g. "doesn't") if the subject itself is singular (e.g. "memory", "bed") and the plural verb form (e.g. "don't") if the subject is plural (e.g. "memories", "beds"). It doesn't make any difference if the subject is qualified by a possessive pronoun (or which one).
... if the/his/my/their/etc. memory doesn't return ...
... if the/his/my/their/etc. memory doesn't return ...
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