the sun don't shine v.s. the sun doesn't shine

lost_soul · Tue Feb 19, 2008 22:21 pm *the sun don't shine v.s. the sun doesn't shine*

Hi,

Now that I know the widely known abusive saying "...or I'll stick it where the sun don't shine", would you mind telling me why on earth we use "don't" instead of "doesn't" in that phrase?
has this phrase become idiomatic, or is it just a mistake and the right way to say it is "where the sun doesn't shine" ?

Thanks in advance!
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Alex

A native speaker of Russian

Yankee · Tue Feb 19, 2008 22:56 pm *the sun don't shine v.s. the sun doesn't shine*

Hi Alex

Using do rather than does in the third person singular is a slang usage. This usage often comes across as uneducated or unrefined. Don't you think it somehow fitting that such an abusive expression would also use "unrefined" grammar? Wink

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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

prezbucky · Wed Feb 20, 2008 2:02 am *the sun don't shine v.s. the sun doesn't shine*

Alex, come to the US South and you'll hear such phrases a lot.

(many folks here mix up "doesn't" and "don't" all the time -- the full manifestation is such that "doesn't" is all but forgotten to some)
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

prezbucky · Wed Feb 20, 2008 2:03 am *the sun don't shine v.s. the sun doesn't shine*

You'd hear things like:

- He don't care about her.
- Kenseth don't have a prayer at winning this race.
- She don't like me.

etc.
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

lost_soul · Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:23 am *the sun don't shine v.s. the sun doesn't shine*

Hi, Amy & Tom
Glad to hear from you, guys and thank you for your replies ! Smile

Yeah, I agree that when a person says such things, the grammar rules are not an issue anymore.
_________________
Alex

A native speaker of Russian

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