When do we use the 'Do' and the 'Does'?

The Do and the Does

There are 3 ways to use this verb, let's see when and how we should use it and their respective examples:

1·As a main verb: When we use 'do' and 'does' as the main verb, they have a translation and mean “to do”. In this sense, the grammatical structure of a sentence with Do/does as the main verb is the following:

Examples:

• I do my homework in the afternoon. (Hago mi tarea por la tarde.)

• He does 20 push-ups. (Él hace 20 flexiones.)

• The students do their homework every day. / Los alumnos hacen su tarea todos los días.

• Mary does Maths exercises every week. / Mary hace ejercicios de matemáticas todas las semanas.

2. Uses of the verb do as auxiliary

This verb is one of the auxiliaries with the most uses and variations that you will find in the language, and it is usually one of the contents that confuses students the most.

The verb to do functions as an auxiliary verb in both the simple present and the simple past, when the sentence is negative or interrogative. In the examples where the verb to do is used as an auxiliary verb, do, does and did have no meaning. Rather they act as a support for the sentence. Let's say they hold the phrase. They do not add content, but structure.

But watch out! Although the auxiliary verb (do / does / did in this case) does not have a Spanish translation, it is essential for the sentence in English.

As negative sentences

In negative sentences, the do not / does not allows you to negate the present simple, and is used precisely to negate the action of the main verb of the sentence.

The grammatical structure of this then is composed of the following:

For example:

• He does not like to eat cookies

• I don't watch YouTube

• The baby does not like pumpkin

As interrogative auxiliary verb

It also works to be able to ask questions, it is used implicitly, that is, it does not have a specific meaning. In itself, the verb do is used within a question when the main verb is not the verb to be. It can be used in conjunction with WH Questions or alone; however, in the case of being used together, it must go first Wh + Do + Subject.In this case, the grammar is:

For example:

• Do you like this painting? (¿Te gusta esta pintura?)

• Do they speak spanish ? (¿Hablan ellos español?)

• Does he speak english?

• Do you play baseball?

• What do you do in your free time?

As past simple of Do

In the simple past, do and does become simply "Did", and this auxiliary has the same function as the other two, only in this case, it expresses the past. In the case of using did, it is maintained regardless of the pronoun we are using in the sentence. As the main verb it would be:

For example:

• I did my homework yesterday.