People don’t or doesn’t: Which Is Correct?

‘People don’t always realize their potential‘ or ‘People doesn’t always realize their potential‘ Which one of the sentences is correct? “don’t” is a contraction for “do not.” “Don’t” is used with plural subjects, such as “people,” “they,” “we,” etc. Hence, “don’t” is used with “People.”

For example:

• People don’t always realize their potential. (Correct)
• People doesn’t always realize their potential. (Wrong)
• People don’t always recognize the impact of their words on others, often underestimating the power of simple gestures. (Correct)
• Despite the warnings, many people don’t prioritize their mental health until they experience the effects of neglecting it. (Correct)
• People don’t usually notice their surroundings when they’re engrossed in their smartphones, missing out on the beauty around them. (Correct)

Explanation

In English, the verb “do” forms negatives and questions in the present simple tense for most verbs. When you’re using “do” to indicate a negative or a question, it changes based on the subject. For singular subjects (like “he,” “she,” “it,” or a singular noun), you’d use “does not” or the contraction “doesn’t.” For plural subjects (like “people,” “they,” “we,” “you”), the correct form is “do not” or the contraction “don’t.”

For example:

• Singular: “She doesn’t like coffee.”
• Plural: “They don’t go to the gym often.”

So, when referring to “people” as the subject, the appropriate negation of the verb “do” is “don’t.” This applies to other plural subjects as well.