Do

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Revision as of 18:40, 1 May 2021 by Sashi (talk | contribs) (Auxiliary for simple present and simple past)
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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 grammatical marker of the simple past and present. It is used both in negative and interrogative sentences to mark the tense; in affirmative sentences it is not required. It can however be used emphatically (contrastives, tag questions). It also is 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.
  • etc.

Semantics

Make or Do?

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