The verb do is used to express the performance, execution, or carrying out of an action, task, or activity. It is a highly versatile and essential verb in English, functioning both as a main verb and an auxiliary verb.
- Meaning: to perform, execute, carry out
- Usage: actions, tasks, activities, general deeds
- Forms: do (present), does (3rd person sing.), did (past), done (past participle)
To perform, execute, or carry out an action.
Yes, 'do' covers both specific tasks and general actions.
'Do' works as both a main verb and an auxiliary verb.
Main Uses and Meanings
As a main verb, do means to perform or carry out an action, task, or duty. It is often used in situations where the specific action is either understood from context or is deliberately left open (i.e., a “substitute verb”). It is also used for making general statements about actions or work.
- Performing work, tasks, or duties: “I do my homework every day.”
- General/unspecified actions: “What do you do?” (meaning: What actions/tasks do you perform?)
- Replacing other verbs to avoid repetition: “I cleaned the kitchen and did the dishes.”
Do is used for performing tasks, general actions, and avoiding repetition.
do / does / did / done
| Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I/You/We/They | do (work, tasks) | do not (don’t) | Do you... ? |
| He/She/It | does (work, tasks) | does not (doesn’t) | Does he/she/it...? |
| Past (all) | did (worked, performed) | did not (didn’t) | Did you...? |
| Past Participle | (have/has) done |
Examples:
- Main verb, present: “She does the laundry on Sundays.”
- Main verb, past: “They did the project together.”
- Negative: “I don’t do that kind of work.”
- Question: “Do you do yoga?”
do, does, did, done
do as an Auxiliary Verb
do is also used as an auxiliary verb to form questions, negatives, and emphatic statements with other verbs (except modal verbs and forms of “be”).
- Questions: “Do you like coffee?”
- Negatives: “I don’t (do not) like tea.”
- Emphasis: “I do want to go!”
Note: When do is used as an auxiliary, the main verb remains in its base form.
Do is used for questions, negatives, and emphasis.
Typical Contexts and Collocations
do is used in many common phrases and expressions related to work, study, favors, and daily routines.
- do homework
- do the dishes / laundry / cleaning
- do a favor
- do business
- do your best
- do exercise / yoga
'do' is used with homework, dishes, a favor, business, etc.
Exercises
1. Conjugation Challenge
Write the correct form of “do” for each sentence:
- She _ her best in every exam.
- Did you _ the report yesterday?
- They _ not agree with the decision.
- _ he usually help you with projects?
- We have _ all the preparations.
2. Usage Identification
For each sentence, state whether “do” is used as a main verb or an auxiliary verb:
- Do you want some coffee?
- I do the shopping on weekends.
- He didn’t do his chores.
- She does speak French very well.
- We are going to do a lot of traveling.
3. Collocation Selection
Which “do” phrase correctly completes each sentence?
- Every morning, I _ before breakfast. (do the laundry / do homework / do exercise)
- Can you me a favor? (do / give / make)
- Our company _ a lot of business overseas. (does / makes / goes)
The verb do is indispensable in English for expressing the performance of actions, whether specified or general. Its dual role as a main and auxiliary verb makes it fundamental for sentence construction across tenses.
- do covers actions, tasks, and routines, often as a “catch-all” verb.
- It changes form to match the subject and tense (do/does/did/done).
- As an auxiliary, it helps form questions, negatives, and adds emphasis.