Unit 1.2
Present 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.
Form
To do can be used as an auxiliary verb or a main verb that has its own meaning. To do is an irregular verb and in the affirmative, negative and interrogative form in present it has different kinds of structures and forms.
To Do Affirmative
In the affirmative form, the verb to do follows this structure:
Subject + verb to do + …
In the present tense, as main verb and auxiliary verb, it has the following forms:
| Subject | To Do as main verb | To Do as auxiliary verb |
| I | do | do + base verb |
| You | do | do + base verb |
| He | does | does + base verb |
| She | does | does + base verb |
| It | does | does + base verb |
| We | do | do + base verb |
| You | do | do + base verb |
| They | do | do + base verb |
To Do Negative
In the negative form the verb to do follows this structure:
Subject + to do + not + …
In the present tense, as main verb and auxiliary verb, it has the following forms:
| Subject | To Do as main verb | To Do as auxiliary verb |
| I | do not do | do not + base verb |
| You | do not do | do not + base verb |
| He | does not do | does not + base verb |
| She | does not do | does not + base verb |
| It | does not do | does not + base verb |
| We | do not do | do not + base verb |
| You | do not do | do not + base verb |
| They | do not do | do not + base verb |
To Do Interrogative
In the interrogative form the verb to do follows this structure:
To do + subject + …?
In the present tense, as main verb and auxiliary verb, it has the following forms:
| To Do as main verb | Subject | Question Mark |
| Do | I | do? |
| Do | you | do? |
| Does | he | do? |
| Does | she | do? |
| Does | it | do? |
| Do | we | do? |
| Do | you | do? |
| Do | they | do? |
| To Do as auxiliary verb | Subject | Question Mark |
| Do | I | base verb + ? |
| Do | you | base verb + ? |
| Does | he | base verb + ? |
| Does | she | base verb + ? |
| Does | it | base verb + ? |
| Do | we | base verb + ? |
| Do | you | base verb + ? |
| Do | they | base verb + ? |
NOTE: The short form (don’t/doesn’t) is used in spoken language or in informal writing.
Example
To Do Affirmative:
- I do my homework.
- He does his work diligently.
- .
To Do Negative:
- You do not do any sport.
- She does not do her work properly.
To Do Interrogative:
- Do you do housework at home?
- Who does this?
Use
We use the present 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 present form, as well as before the main verb in the affirmative form to give more emphasis in the present form;
- 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 does his job well.” → the subject is followed by the verb in its third singular person form does.
“I do not do my homework in the evening.” → the subject is followed by the verb and the negative particle not.
“Does he do the exercises well?“→ the third singular person form does is followed by the subject and the main verb.
Exercises
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