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Auxiliary Do

Verb to Do


The verb to do is another common verb in English. It can be used as an auxiliary and a main verb. It is often used in questions.

Forms of To Do

 

Present

Past

Perfect

Continuous

 

 

 

Form

Form

I / you / we / they

do

did

have / had done

are / were doing

he / she / it

does

did

has / had done

is / was doing


As an auxiliary verb do is used with a main verb when forming interrogative or negative sentences, or for adding emphasis. It is also called the dummy operator or dummy auxiliary.

Question

Positive Statement (spoken)

Negative Statement (spoken)

Singular

Do I?

I do

I do not (I don't)

Do you?

You do

You do not (You don't)

Does he/she/it?

He/she/it does

He/she/it does not (He/she/it doesn't)

Plural

Do we?

We do

We do not (We don't)

Do you?

You do

You do not (You don't)

Do they?

They do

They do not (They don't)


Examples

 

Do

Does

Question - ?

"Do you always take the bus to work?"

"Does she ever do her homework on time?"

Positive Answer - Yes

"Yes I do."

"Yes she does."

Negative Answer - No

"No I don't."

"No she doesn't."


When using the continuous tense do becomes doing and it doesn't change.

 

Doing

Question - ?

"Are you doing your homework?"

Positive Answer - Yes

"Yes I am."

Negative Answer - No

"No I'm not."


When using the simple past tense do becomes did and it doesn't change.

 

Did

Question - ?

"Did you always take the bus to work?"

Positive Answer - Yes

"Yes I did."

Negative Answer - No

"No I didn’t."


When using the perfect tense do becomes done and it doesn't change.

 

Done

Question - ?

"Have you done your homework?"

Positive Answer - Yes

"Yes I have."

Negative Answer - No

"No I haven't."


More functions for the verb “to do”
The verb “to do” works as a main verb.

For example:
  • YT - My husband does the dishes.
  • ST - Gosh! Did he do them yesterday?
  • YT - Yes he did.


Do is used as an auxiliary verb (dummy auxiliary) in the question form.
For example: I know the way. Do you know the way?
Do is used for emphasis in positive statements.
For example: I do like this beer!

! Note - As an auxiliary verb 'do' is always followed by the base form of the main verb (infinitive).