How to use “do” as a normal verb? | Learning English Grammar

How to use “do” as a normal verb?

Asked by @ Liza Patani (Community Student)

English Grammar Rules

Answered by @ Elo Kasia

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English Grammar Lessons – Auxiliary Verb – ‘DO”

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How to use DO as a normal verb

Question Time: How to use “do” as a normal verb?

  @ Liza Patani , Thank you for your question.

  As usual, I will try to explain the difference using simple language and plenty of examples.

We have already studied the usage of “do” as a helping (auxiliary) verb which is needed in some tenses to make questions and negatives. In the Present Simple, remember to use “do” and “does” (don’t and doesn’t) and in the Past Simple “did” (didn’t).

“Do” is also one of the most often used verbs in English together with have and make. When it is used as a “normal” verb its meaning is similar to “make” and in fact, these two are very often confused in English.

Quite often do/does as a helping verb occurs in a sentence with “do” as a normal verb, like in these examples:

“How do you do?” – a very formal statement used in some situations when we meet somebody for the first time. The correct answer to it is “How do you do?”

What do you do (for a living)? = What is your job/ occupation?

Below you will find the most common examples of how “do” is used as a normal verb.

Do a course

• I want to do a course in Math.

Do a favour

• Could you do me a favour § and watch my bag for 2 minutes.

Do a good/great/terrible job

• You did a great job in your last test.

Do anything/something/everything/ nothing

• You can’t do everything by yourself – let me help you.

Do badly/ do well/ do better

• Some children do badly at school for a variety of reasons.
• Girls do better at school than boys.
• I’m sure you will do well in your job interview.

Do business

• It’s been a pleasure to do business with you.

Do exercise/ gymnastics/ yoga

• I really enjoy doing exercise every day.

Do harm

• Drugs can do harm to you.

Do homework

• Do your homework first before going out.

Do housework.

• I hate doing housework. I can’t stand washing-up.

Do the cooking/ ironing/ cleaning/ shopping/ washing-up, the dishes

• I don’t mind washing-up if you do the cooking.

Do your best

• It doesn’t matter if you fail, just do your best.

Do your duty

• Do your duty without regard to the consequences. A

Do someone’s hair

• She was sitting in front of the mirror doing her hair.

Do your makeup

• How long does it take you to do your makeup?

There are many more expressions with do worth memorising. Make a note of them as you come across them. Do our TT exercises to practise the correct usage and gain fluency.

Make sure you follow our Daily *TT exercises to practise in our ever growing “English Grammar and Speaking Academy“.

Check my other articles here: All English Time Ask Elo – Learning Articles

Elo Kasia Community Mentor for ” English Grammar and Speaking Academy“.

Director at Eloquent Learning Online, educational institution based in the UK. www.eloquentlearning.com.

English Grammar Rules