Unit 6.2
Past Simple of To Do
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Introduction
To do is a main verb and an auxiliary verb that is essential in grammar.
It is an irregular verb and it has its own constructions in the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms.
The past simple is the tense used to express situations, events and actions that happened in the past.
Form
To Do Affirmative
In the affirmative form, the verb to do follows this structure:
Subject + verb to do + …
In the past tense, as main verb and auxiliary verb, it has the following forms:
| Subject | To Do as main verb | To Do as auxiliary verb |
| I | did do | did + base verb |
| You | did do | did + base verb |
| He | did do | did + base verb |
| She | did do | did + base verb |
| It | did do | did + base verb |
| We | did do | did + base verb |
| You | did do | did + base verb |
| They | did do | did + base verb |
To Do Negative
In the negative form the verb to do follows this structure:
Subject + to do + not + …
In the past tense, as main verb and auxiliary verb, it has the following forms:
| Subject | To Do as main verb | To Do as auxiliary verb |
| I | did not do | did not + base verb |
| You | did not do | did not + base verb |
| He | did not do | did not + base verb |
| She | did not do | did not + base verb |
| It | did not do | did not + base verb |
| We | did not do | did not + base verb |
| You | did not do | did not + base verb |
| They | did not do | did not + base verb |
To Do Interrogative
In the interrogative form the verb to do follows this structure:
To do + subject + …?
In the past tense, as main verb and auxiliary verb, it has the following forms:
| To Do as main verb | Subject | Question Mark |
| Did | I | do? |
| Did | you | do? |
| Did | he | do? |
| Did | she | do? |
| Did | it | do? |
| Did | we | do? |
| Did | you | do? |
| Did | they | do? |
| To Do as auxiliary verb | Subject | Question Mark |
| Did | I | base verb + ? |
| Did | you | base verb + ? |
| Did | he | base verb + ? |
| Did | she | base verb + ? |
| Did | it | base verb + ? |
| Did | we | base verb + ? |
| Did | you | base verb + ? |
| Did | they | base verb + ? |
Example
To Do Affirmative:
- I did my homework.
- He did his work diligently.
To Do Negative:
- You did not do any sport.
- She did not do her work properly.
To Do Interrogative:
- Did you do housework at home?
- Who did this?
Use
We use the past simple of the verb to do as:
- an auxiliary verb: before the main verb to form its negatives and interrogative forms and the negative imperatives in the past, as well as before the main verb in the affirmative form to give more emphasis in the past;
- a main verb: in the meaning of to perform or to complete an action.
Summary
To do can be used as a main verb or an auxiliary verb.
It is an irregular verb and it has its own constructions:
- affirmative: we start with the subject followed by the verb to do (without to) and the main verb (when it is an auxiliar verb);
- negative: we start with the subject followed by the verb to do (without to), not and the main verb (when it is an auxiliar verb);
- interrogative: we start with to do (without to) followed by the subject and the main verb.
For example:
“He did his job well.” → the subject is followed by the verb in its past form did.
“I did not do my homework in the evening.” → the subject is followed by the verb and the negative particle not.
“Did he do the exercises well?“→ the past form did is followed by the subject and the main verb.
Exercises
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