the uses of ‘to do’

present

simple

past tense past

participle

present

participle

I / you / we / they DO DID DONE DOING

He/she/it DOES

The verb ‘to do’ is a common verb in English. It can be used as an auxiliary and a main

verb. It is often used in questions. As an auxiliary verb do is used with a main verb when

forming interrogative or negative sentences, or for adding emphasis.

In

questions/negatives

Do you like reading?

We didn’t know about

the new rules.

The uses of

‘to do’

For emphasis

Do take care!

Jhon did promise not

to do it again.

2

In polite requests

Do have a cup of

coffee.

3

4

As a main verb

1.Activity/job

Have you done the

washing?

2.Succeed/fail (do

well/badly)

The children are

doing very well at

school.

3.To make sb feel

better or happier

Let’s go out. Fresh

air will do you good.

For other uses of ‘do’

see collocations

5

As an auxiliary verb

1

do business

do nothing

do someone a favour

do the cooking

do the housework

do the shopping

do the washing up

do one’s best

do one’s hair/teeth/nails

do one’s homework

do some exercises

I like to sing while

doing the gardening!

COLLOCATIONS WITH ’DO’

VERB MEANING EXAMPLES

to do over to do something again

I had to do it over because my computer crashed and I hadn't saved it. Do you like the colour of this room? No, you should do it over. What about green?

to do without to manage to live despite not having something

There is no telephone connection now and we have to do without it.

to do away with to get rid of something or to stop using something

Let's do away with formality and use first names. She moved to a new flat and did away with all the old furniture.

to do sb/yourself down

to criticize sb or yourself

Don’t do him down. It’s not his fault!

to do yourself up to make yourself more attractive

Kate spent hours doing herself up for her wedding.

SOME USES OF THE VERB

‘TO DO’ AS A PHRASAL

VERB

Instead of verb (to

avoid repeating

another verb)

Now I can play the

guitar better than I

did. ( than I used to

play)

John spends hours doing her hair every morning.

do the laundry

do (some) good

do (some) harm

do research

do well/badly

do a crossword

do the

garden/gardening

do the ironing

do a course

do make up