Use of didn’t saw and didn’t see in negative Simple Past

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Please clarify the usage of didn't in negative form of simple past .I have searched on other websites and most of them says that sentence one is incorrect and correct usage is done in sentence second citing reasons like did is already in past and hence saw doesn't make any sense etc.

Though I was still not satisfied .Hence I just checked in Microsoft Word Grammar Check. And I found both the sentences are grammatically correct.

I didn't saw that coming.
I didn't see that coming.

Request some expert to clarify this doubt.
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by dhonu121 » Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:41 am
Did is the past participle of do. Since we have already used a past participle we do not need to use past participle form of the main verb in our sentence.
Hence I did not see it coming is the correct form.
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by avik.ch » Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:55 pm
skhan1809 wrote:Though I was still not satisfied .Hence I just checked in Microsoft Word Grammar Check. And I found both the sentences are grammatically correct.

I didn't saw that coming.
I didn't see that coming.

Request some expert to clarify this doubt.
Two Important points :

1. When ever we change the tense of the verb, the first word of the verb only change into the respective tenses and all other be in their base form.

2. When we change a sentence into a negative form, we place not after the be verb, incase be verb is not there - then we use do. In fact "do" is assumed when there is no "be" verb. ( same is done in converting a sentence into a interrogative one)

She is coming ---- she is not coming : "not" is an adverb of frequency. "Not" being an adverb of frequency acts like all other adverbs of frequency -- be+adverb of frequency+main verb.

Messi has always scored a goal against X -- be + adverb of frequency + main verb

when there are no "be" verb :

Original form : They do love to watch cricket ---- They love to watch cricket.(do is assumed here) --- They do not love to watch cricket.

So when we convert this into a past form, as per rule 1 - the first verb take the tense while all other remain in their base form ( plural present form) --> They did not love to watch Cricket.

So - I didn't saw ... is wrong. --- past form of "do not see" is "did not see"

This concept can also be applied here :

1. Does everyone has their book?
2. Does everyone has his book?
3. Does everyone have his book?
4. Does everyone have their book?

https://www.beatthegmat.com/mgmat-sc-doubt-t102848.html



Hope this helps !!

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by lunarpower » Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:12 am
i received a private message about this thread.

two replies:

1/ "didn't saw" is wrong. "didn't see" is correct.

2/ if you trust microsoft word's green squiggly line over the collective opinion of the english-speaking internet community, then you should definitely recalibrate your judgment of which sources are authoritative and which sources are not.
the "grammar check" is a primitive tool (and even that is a rather generous characterization); its accuracy in judging any non-simple sentence is laughable.
Ron has been teaching various standardized tests for 20 years.

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