Does vs Do
“Do” is one of the most commonly used verbs in English. It’s also one of the first verbs we learn. It has two meanings/functions. The first meaning is when it functions as a verb and means “to do” as in “to perform”, the second function is as an auxiliary verb. Do and does are two forms of the same verb, used in the present tense. The verb do is used to describe actions and tasks. Does is the third-person singular of the verb “do”.
Conjugation of the Verb “To Do”
Do is used with the subjects: I, you, we, they.
Does is used with the third-person singular subjects: he, she, it.
This is how the verb “to do” is conjugated (changed according to the subject and tense).
| I do | we do |
| you do | you do |
| he does | they do |
| she does | |
| it does |
When do we use “do” or “does”
Both do and does can be used as the main verb (to describe actions) or as auxiliary verbs (helping verbs) to create questions or negative sentences in the present simple tense.
As a Main Verb (Dynamic Verb)
When do or does is the main verb, it refers to performing an action or task.
Do (for I, you, we, they):
Does (for he, she, it):
Do vs Make
While do and make both mean “to perform an action,” they are used differently in English.
Make is used when creating something or producing something:
Make a decision
Do is used when talking about tasks, activities, or actions:
Do the laundry
Forming Questions with Do and Does
Both do and does are used to create questions in the present simple tense. In these questions, do or does comes before the subject of the sentence.
Do (for I, you, we, they):
Does (for he, she, it):
Short Answers with Do and Does
In conversation, you can answer questions with short answers. For both do and does, you simply use yes or no and repeat the auxiliary verb do or does along with the subject.
– Yes, I do.
– No, I don’t.
– Yes, he does.
– No, he doesn’t.
Word Order in Questions
When forming a question, you place do or does before the subject.
Forming Negative Sentences with Do and Does
To form negative sentences, do and does are used with not. In short form, do not becomes don’t, and does not becomes doesn’t.
Do (for I, you, we, they):
Does (for he, she, it):
No “Do” with “To Be” or Modal Verbs
You do not use do or does in questions or negatives when the main verb is to be or a modal verb (like can, will, should, etc.).
To be:
(not Do you are)
(not Does she is)
Modal Verbs:
(not Does she can)
(not Do we should)
Imperative
In the imperative form (giving commands), do is used, but does is not.
Question Tags
Question tags are used to confirm information. You add do/does and a pronoun at the end of a statement.
Summary Table
| DO | DOES | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | + to perform an action or task | + to perform an action or task |
| Usage | + with I, you, we, they | + with he, she, it |
| Question | + Do you like it? | + Does he like it? |
| Negative | + I don’t like it. | + She doesn’t like it. |
| Imperative | + Do your homework. | + Does not apply. |
