BLP A-Z of Learning English: «D» for «Do»

Today I want to talk about “Do” and its many uses

“Do”… is one of the first auxiliary verbs you learn (3rd person “does”, past “did”, past participle “done”, gerund “doing”)…

Karen Thorley
01/03/2020

… so, why do I want to talk about “Do”???

Well, it actually has many uses:

1. as an auxiliary verb
2. as a main verb
3. in idiomatic use
4. in phrasal verbs
5. Pronunciation

1. as an auxiliary verb:

1.1 We know that Do/Does and Did are used as the auxiliaries for present simple questions and negatives (Do you live here? I don’t live here), remembering the 3^rd person singular (Does he live here?/He doesn’t live here), Past Simple (Did you live here before? He didn’t live here).

1.2 We also use it in the short answers: (Yes I do/No I don’t) or (Yes she does / No she doesn’t ) or (Yes they did, no they didn’t)

1.3 And in question tags, remembering to mix positive with negative and negative with positive: (You live here, don’t you? / You don’t live here, do you? / She lives here, doesn’t she? / He doesn’t live here, does he? / He lived here, didn’t he?/He didn’t go to the USA, did he?)

1.4 Do is also used for emphasis: (Please, do come in /Do tell me about…/ I do think he should go to the doctor / He does annoy me sometimes / He did go to the cinema in the end….didn’t he” (remember to stress it when speaking) – Remember to stress it when speaking

1.5 In negative imperatives – (Don’t forget to feed the cat!! / Don’t tell me…you’re pregnant!!)

2. as a main verb:

As a main verb: What can I do tomorrow?/ I did it yesterday/What will you do?) /I wouldn’t like to do your job / How can I do my hair for the wedding? / I can’t do my homework with the tv on / He did something stupid/ She does a lot of activities with children / What have you done this week? / What are you doing this evening?

Here, our main difficulty is knowing the different collocations, especially between “do and make”.

General speaking, “do” is used more for activities and “make” is more for generating or creating something.

NB: To remember these collocations, try making up stories to use them in context, and by practicing your story it will help you remember the difference expressions.

3. as idiomatic expressions

4. as phrasal verbs

5. Pronunciation

In connected speech the “do” in “do you,” said quickly, sounds more like “jew” – Do you live here = “Jew live here?”

Does = ds – Does he live here = “ds-hi live here?”

Did you = di-jew “Did you live here?” = “Di-jew  live here?”

How do you do?, when  said quickly = “How je do?” Or even the cowboy greeting “Howdy” (see Woody from Toy Story) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C25l1SkYzb0

Well I do hope this helps you use
“do” in different ways!!