In the simple present tense,
do will function as an auxiliary
to express the negative and to ask questions. (
Does, however, is substituted for third-person, singular subjects in the present tense. The past tense
did works with all persons, singular and plural.)
- I don't study at night.
- She doesn't work here anymore.
- Do you attend this school?
- Does he work here?
These verbs also work as "short answers," with the main verb omitted.
- Does she work here? No, she doesn't
work here.
With "yes-no" questions, the form of do goes in front of the subject and the main verb comes after the subject:
- Did your grandmother know Truman?
- Do wildflowers grow in your back yard?
Forms of do are useful in expressing similarity and differences in conjunction with so and neither.
- My wife hates spinach and so does my son.
- My wife doesn't like spinach; neither do I.
Do is also helpful because it means you don't have to repeat the verb:
- Larry excelled in language studies; so did his brother.
- Raoul studies as hard as his sister does.
The so-called emphatic do has many uses in English.
- To add emphasis to an entire sentence: "He does like spinach. He really does!"
- To add emphasis to an imperative: "Do come in." (actually softens the command)
- To add emphasis to a frequency adverb: "He never did understand his father." "She always does manage to hurt her mother's feelings."
- To contradict a negative statement: "You didn't do your homework, did you?" "Oh, but I did finish it."
- To ask a clarifying question about a previous negative statement: "Ridwell didn't take the tools." "Then who did take the tools?"
- To indicate a strong concession: "Although the Clintons denied any wrong-doing, they did return some of the gifts."
In the absence of other modal auxiliaries, a form of do is used in question and negative constructions known as the get passive:
- Did Rinaldo get selected by the committee?
- The audience didn't get riled up by the politician.
