How and when to use DO, DOES, and DID

Do you know when and how to use the verb to do ? In this basic English grammar lesson, I will explain how do is used with different verb tenses when you make a negative statement and when you ask a question. Learn how to use this verb in the present, past, and present continuous tenses in all kinds of sentences. DO you want to watch? Yes, of course you DO ! DID you click on the lesson yet?

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401 COMMENTS

Thank you Gill! Your lesson is simple and clear. Thank you very much.

Thank u Mrs/Gill

thanks for teaching

Thank you Ms Gill, very useful

Thank you Gill! I do like your lessons!!

Do, does and did for emphasis were new and interesting for me! Thank you, Gill :)

Thanks for this lesson, Gill!

Is the English grammar the same in England and in North America relative to the following point? It seems a little different.

You have a new car. -> Have you a new car? (British)
You have a new car. -> Do you have a new car? (American / Canadian)

Are those correct sentences in English depending on the country? Or the second, because of the present tense, is the correct also in England?

Hello fcicerre — thanks for your question. It’s the same in British and American English — here in the UK we use ‘do’ all the time when asking questions. All the best :-)

Thanks Gill for your reply!

Albeit silly, this was a doubt that I had had for a long time.

thank you for teaching the people clearly. I too, learn a lot from you.

Thank you Gill! :) I have to say what a wonderfull being you are! :)Although i do not consider myself as a beginner. I really do like you and your lessons. Moreover there is always room for improvement, especially the basics :)))

Your voice warms my heart. :) You and your colleagues are doing a great job!! Thank you for that !:)))

thank you, Teacher!

my score was 100…..I’ve got it all.
You are very clear and your explanation was too easy to understand.
Thanks so much teacher.

Hello Gill
Thanks for this lesson . When you explain the verb do for emphasis , you told : ” she does look tired, she can’t a slept last night ” . Have I well heard ? if yes , could you explain why using can in a present tense to speak about something that happened in the past ? The conjugation of the verb sleep does confuse me too . Until now I would have said : “she was not able to sleep last night ” .
I am looking forward to your explanation .
Bye

Hi tsamp — thanks for your question. What I probably said was: ‘she can’t have slept last night’. Your sentence ‘she was not able to sleep last night’ is also correct. My use of ‘can’t’ was in the sense of a possibility or probability — ‘It is possible/probable that she didn’t sleep last night’. I hope that helps to explain the use of the present tense. By using ‘last night’ it helps to clarify that it was in the past. English verb tenses are complicated ;-)

Hello, Gill! I do like your lessons! I’m looking forward to your next one!
Thank you very much! Take care :)

Thank you very much teacher! I did understand it!

Thank you very much Gill!!
I do love your lessons ;)

This is really helpful.
thanks :)

Thank you Gill
I think that is very important review the basic rules sometimes.
I do again some mistake about this subject, especially when I talk fastly with someone.
So, let’s go on! One day I will be an english teacher. LOL :)))

Is the following sentence correct?
“I did do that”.

Hi Apurba — thanks for your question. Yes, if you say ‘I did do that’ you’re emphasising the fact that you did it, maybe to contradict someone who suggested that you didn’t do it. You can also say ‘I did that’, which is a simple statement without any sense of emphasis or contradiction. So yes, it’s possible to have two forms of the verb ‘to do’ (did do) in one sentence!