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verb

do

/duː/

dodiddone

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A word you can put to work

Build confidence with do.

Explore the patterns, test your choices, then use them in your own sentences.

4 useful uses8 practice questions4 activity cards
For learnersTest what you know Check answers and learn from each choice. For teachersPlan a practical lesson Ready-to-use cards, prompts and worksheets.

AI-assisted materials · Independent human review pending · Updated 26 October 2026

Verb forms and pronunciation

He / she / it
does
Past simple
did
Past participle
done
-ing form
doing

UK /duː/ · US /duː/

Headword IPA only; audio not supplied.

What you will practise

  • Separate main-verb do from auxiliary do.
  • Form questions without marking the following verb twice.
  • Explain emphatic do and identify an action referred back to by do.

4 selected meanings and uses

1. Carry out a task or activity.

do + task/activity

  • I do the washing-up after dinner.
  • The class did a short exercise before the test.

Useful combinations: do homework · do an exercise

Homework is normally uncountable: some homework, not a homework. The main verb do can follow an auxiliary do.

2. Help another verb form a question or negative.

do/does/did + subject + base verb; subject + do/does/did not + base verb

  • Does your tutor work on Saturdays?
  • We did not print the answer sheet.

Useful combinations: do not know · does not need

This is a grammatical function, not the task meaning. Ordinary questions with be or a modal do not add do. IPA here is the strong headword form; unstressed auxiliary forms vary.

3. Strengthen an affirmative statement.

do/does/did + stressed base verb

  • I do appreciate the detailed feedback.
  • She did send the attachment; check your spam folder.

Useful combinations: do appreciate · did send

This often corrects a doubt. The next verb stays in its base form.

4. Refer back to an action already mentioned.

subject + do/does/did (+ too)

  • Mira checks each reference, and I do too.
  • He promised to tidy the cupboard, and he did.

Useful combinations: I do too · he did

Identify the earlier action. Do does not automatically replace be or a modal.

Choose the right word or pattern

Main verb or auxiliary?

Main-verb do names a task. Auxiliary do helps form questions, negatives or emphatic statements.

  • I do the washing-up.
  • Do you wash up after dinner?

Do the work or make a plan?

Learn conventional combinations: do names many activities, while make names many outcomes. This is a tendency, not a complete rule.

  • We did the research.
  • We made a plan for the presentation.

Repeat the whole action or use do?

Use do to refer back to a lexical verb phrase. Match the subject and tense.

  • I walk to work, and my neighbour does too.
  • They checked the list, and we did too.

Common mistakes explained

Check this: Did she finished the task?

Correction: Did she finish the task?

Did carries the past marking, so the following verb stays in its base form.

Check this: She do her homework.

Correction: She does her homework.

Use does with she in present simple.

Check this: Do you can help?

Correction: Can you help?

An ordinary modal question does not add do.

Check this: She did sent it.

Correction: She did send it.

Did takes the base form send.

Practise do: questions and explanations

Choose an answer, then check why it works. You can also open an explanation whenever you need help.

1___ your tutor check every answer?
Show answer and explanation

B. Does

A singular third-person subject takes does.

2I have ___ the homework.
Show answer and explanation

B. done

Have needs done.

3Which past question is correct?
Show answer and explanation

C. Did she finish?

Did carries past tense, so finish stays in the base form.

4Someone says you never listen. Which reply explicitly uses do for emphasis?
Show answer and explanation

A. I do listen.

Stressed do strengthens the affirmative statement.

5Mira checks every source, and I do too. What do I do?
Show answer and explanation

A. Check every source.

Do replaces checks every source.

6Choose the ordinary modal question.
Show answer and explanation

C. Can you swim?

Invert can and the subject; do is not added.

7Which is the conventional activity phrase?
Show answer and explanation

B. do homework

The usual combination is do homework.

8She ___ send it yesterday: I saw the message. Choose the emphatic past form.
Show answer and explanation

D. did

Did + base verb emphasises a past affirmative statement.

Write and correct

Write your own response first. Model answers are examples; other natural answers may be correct.

Use the space below or your notebook. Your writing stays in this page; copy anything you want to keep.

  1. Model answer and marking guidance

    Did your tutor check it?

    Require did + base verb check.

    Accept: Require did + base verb check.

  2. Model answer and marking guidance

    She does not check the links.

    Accept doesn't; change checks to check.

    Accept: Accept doesn't; change checks to check.

  3. Model answer and marking guidance

    Printed the handouts.

    Name the complete earlier action.

    Accept: Name the complete earlier action.

  4. Model answer and marking guidance

    I do practise every evening.

    Require affirmative do + base verb.

    Accept: Require affirmative do + base verb.

  5. Model answer and marking guidance

    I did the shopping yesterday.

    Accept a natural task phrase with did.

    Accept: Accept a natural task phrase with did.

Teacher activities and printable materials

Download the five-verb classroom pack (PDF)

The pack covers take, get, make, do and achieve. Student worksheets and teacher answer keys are separated. Select the pages you need before printing.

Lesson activity

Goal: Separate main-verb do from auxiliary do. Form questions without marking the following verb twice. Explain emphatic do and identify an action referred back to by do.

Sort the supplied context cards by meaning or function (5 minutes), explain their patterns (4), practise the supplied dialogue roles (7), and complete the exit checks (4).

Assess meaning, form and word combination separately. Accept original answers that meet the criteria.

Context cards

Card A

We did the washing-up after the club meeting.

Card B

Does the library open on Sundays?

Card C

I do understand the rule, but I need more practice.

Card D

Omar checks the equipment, and his partner does too.

Teacher card key
  • A: Carry out a task or activity.
  • B: Help another verb form a question or negative.
  • C: Strengthen an affirmative statement.
  • D: Refer back to an action already mentioned.

Partner task

Role A: Ask two present-simple questions about study routines. Express doubt about one answer.

Role B: Give short answers, correct the doubt with emphatic do, then describe a task you did yesterday.

  • Separate main-verb do from auxiliary do.
  • Form questions without marking the following verb twice.
  • Explain emphatic do and identify an action referred back to by do.

Exit checks

  1. Ask a past question.

    Sample answer

    Did you check the answer?

  2. Use do for emphasis.

    Sample answer

    I do want to improve.

  3. Explain: I read daily, and she does too.

    Sample answer

    She reads daily.

References and scope

This guide covers selected uses, not every dictionary meaning. Reference excerpts were consulted for language facts; full-source verification and independent human review remain pending. Examples and activities were written for this guide.