Difference between revisions of "Do"

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(Auxiliary for simple present and simple past)
(Auxiliary for simple present and simple past)
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*In affirmative sentences it is not required.  It ''can'' however be used emphatically (contrastives, tag questions).   
 
*In affirmative sentences it is not required.  It ''can'' however be used emphatically (contrastives, tag questions).   
 
*It is also used to <u>refer</u> to the previous main verb in discourse.
 
*It is also used to <u>refer</u> to the previous main verb in discourse.
::&mdash;&mdash;I gave you the password yesterday.
+
::&mdash;I gave you the password yesterday.
 
::&mdash;&mdash;No you didn't.
 
::&mdash;&mdash;No you didn't.
  

Revision as of 17:46, 1 May 2021

Forms

  • dictionary form (bare infinitive): do /du:/
  • present tense: does /dʌz/ (3s), do (1s/p, 2s/p, 3p)
  • past tense: did
  • present participle: doing
  • past participle: done /dʌn/


Syntax

Auxiliary for simple present and simple past

do is the auxiliary verb marking the simple past and present.

  • It is used both in negative and interrogative sentences to fuse with the grammatical markers of time and person.
  • In affirmative sentences it is not required. It can however be used emphatically (contrastives, tag questions).
  • It is also used to refer to the previous main verb in discourse.
—I gave you the password yesterday.
——No you didn't.

Light verb

A sentence like, "yes, let's do that" takes its meaning from the preceding context.

  • Shall we make dinner?
  • We could just leave this until tomorrow.
  • We could survey a couple hundred people and see what they think before making a decision.

Semantics

Make or Do?

Generally you do repetitive tasks, but when you make something you create it.