Unit 1.2
To Do
Introduction
To do is a main verb and an auxiliary verb that is essential in grammar.
It is an irregular verb and it has its own constructions in the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms.
Form
To do can be used as an auxiliary verb or a main verb that has its own meaning.To do is an irregular verb and in the affirmative, negative and interrogative form in present and past tenses it has different kinds of structures and forms.
To Do Affirmative
In the affirmative form, the verb to do follows this structure:
Subject + verb to do (without to) + …
In the present it has the following forms:
| Subject | To Do in Present Simple |
| I | do |
| You | do |
| He | does |
| She | does |
| It | does |
| We | do |
| Yout | do |
| They | do |
In the past it has the following forms:
| Subject | To Do in Past Simple |
| I | did |
| You | did |
| He | did |
| She | did |
| It | did |
| We | did |
| You | did |
| They | did |
To Do Negative
In the negative form the verb to do follows this structure:
Subject + to do (without to) + not + …
In the present and in the past it has the following forms:
| Subject | To Do in Past Simple + not |
| I | did not … |
| You | did not … |
| He | did not … |
| She | did not … |
| It | did not … |
| We | did not … |
| You | did not … |
| They | did not … |
*The short form (don’t/doesn’t) is used in spoken language or in informal writing.
In the present and in the past it has the following forms:
| Subject | To Do in Present Simple + not |
| I | do not … |
| You | do not … |
| He | does not … |
| She | does not … |
| It | does not … |
| We | do not … |
| You | do not … |
| They | do not … |
To Do Interrogative
In the interrogative form the verb to do follows this structure:
To do (without to) + subject + …?
In the present and in the past it has the following forms:
| To Do in Present Simple | Subject | Question Mark |
| Do | I | …? |
| Do | you | …? |
| Does | he | …? |
| Does | she | …? |
| Does | it | …? |
| Do | we | …? |
| Do | you | …? |
| Do | they | …? |
In the present and in the past it has the following forms:
| To Do in Past Simple | Subject | Question Mark |
| Did | I | …? |
| Did | you | …? |
| Did | he | …? |
| Did | she | …? |
| Did | it | …? |
| Did | we | …? |
| Did | you | …? |
| Did | they | …? |
Example
- You do your homework.
- He does his work diligently.
- She did his job well.
- I do not do my homework in the evening.
- I cooked the meals, but I did not do the dishes.
- Who did this?
- Does he do the exercises well?
Use
We use the verb to do as:
- an auxiliary verb: to form negatives and interrogative of other verbs, as well as for emphasis and negative imperatives;
- a main verb: in the meaning of to perform or to complete an action.
Summary
To do can be used as a main verb or an auxiliary verb.
It is an irregular verb and it has its own constructions in the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms:
Subject + verb to do (without to) + …
Subject + to do (without to) + not + …
To do (without to) + subject + …?
For example:
“He did his job well.” → Subject + verb
“I do not do my homework in the evening.” → Subject + verb + not
“Does he do the exercises well?“→ Verb + subject + ?