The difference between “do,” “does,” “did,” “doing,” and “done” in English
How to use “do,” “does,” “did,” “doing,” and “done” in English
The verb “to do” in the English language is one of the most important. The incorrect verb “to do” in English has several forms – do, does, did, doing, done. The verbs “do,” “does,” “did,” and “done” in English have different functions and are used in different tenses and contexts. Let’s look at their difference.
Table with the use of all forms of the verb “do”
| Time | Use of “do,” “does,” “did,” “doing,” and “done” | Use of the Verb |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | Do (I/You/We/They), Does (He/She/It) | Base form of the verb in affirmative sentences, questions, and negatives. Done (Indicates completed actions in this tense.) |
| Past Simple | Did (for all persons) | The verb in the basic form in narrative sentences, questions and objections. |
| Future Simple | Will do (for all persons) | The verb in the basic form in narrative sentences and questions. Done – Indicates future action, but not used in Future Simple. |
| Present Continuous | Am/Is/Are + doing (for all persons) | The verb in the form “doing” indicates actions that continue in the present. |
| Past Continuous | Was/Were + doing (for all persons) | The verb in the form “doing” indicates actions that continued in the past. Done – Indicates completed actions and is not used in the Past Continuous. |
| Present Perfect | Have/Has + done (for all persons) | The verb in the form “done” indicates actions that have been completed by the time of the conversation. Doing – Not used in the Present Perfect. |
| Past Perfec | Had + done (for all persons) | A verb in the form “done” indicates an action that was completed up to a certain point in the past. Doing – Not used in Past Perfect. |
| Present Perfect Continuous | Have/Has + been + doing (for all persons) | The verb in the form “doing” indicates a continuous action that began in the past and continues until the moment of conversation. Done – Not used in the Present Perfect Continuous. |
| Past Perfect Continuous | Had + been + doing (for all persons) | The verb in the form “doing” indicates a long-lasting action that ended up to a certain point in the past. Done – Not used in the Past Perfect Continuous. |
| Future Continuous | Will be + doing (for all persons) | Done (not used in Future Continuous) |
| Future Perfect | Will have + done (for all persons) | Done (not used in Future Perfect) |
The verbs “do,” “does,” “did,” “doing,” and “done” in different tenses
Let’s explore these five forms of the verb “do” in the English language, how they are used in different tenses, how they are formed, and provide examples.
Do (Present or Future Tense)
Form: “Do” is the base form of the verb and is used in the present tense for the first and second persons singular and plural (I, you, we, and they) and for future tense. Usage: “Do” is used to form questions and negatives in the present and future tenses.
For example:
- Question: Do you like ice cream?
- Question: Will she do her homework tomorrow?
- Negative: I don’t enjoy hiking.
- Negative: She won’t do her homework tonight.
Does (Present Tense – Third Person)
Form: “Does” is used in the present tense for the third person singular (he, she, it). Usage: “Does” is used to form questions and negatives in the present tense for the third person singular.
For example:
- Question: Does she play the piano?
- Negative: He doesn’t eat meat.
Did (Past Tense)
Form: “Did” is the past tense form of the verb “do” and is used for all persons (I, you, he/she/it, we, they). Usage: “Did” is used to form questions and negatives in the past tense.
For example:
- Question: Did they visit London last summer?
- Negative: She didn’t finish her book.
Doing (Continuous Tense)
Form: “Doing” is the form of the verb “do” used in continuous tenses. Usage: “Doing” is used to indicate ongoing actions when using the Present Continuous, Past Continuous, and Future Continuous tenses.
For example:
- She is doing her homework right now.
- They were doing the dishes when I arrived.
Done (Perfect Tense)
Form: “Done” is the past participle form of the verb “do” used in perfect tenses. Usage: “Done” is used to indicate completed actions in perfect tenses.
For example:
- I have done my homework already.
- By the time I got there, they had done all the work.
What do you need to know about the different forms of the verb “to do”?
In this article, we have examined the verbs “do,” “does,” “did,” “doing,” and “done” in the context of English grammar. These verbs play a significant role in forming various tense forms and functions in the English language.
- “Do” and “Does” are used in the Present Simple tense to form questions and negatives. “Do” is used with words in the forms of I/You/We/They, while “Does” is used with He/She/It. It can also be used in the Future (e.g., “I will do my homework tomorrow”).
- “Did” is used in the Past Simple tense to form questions and negatives for all persons.
- “Doing” indicates continuous action in the Present Continuous, Past Continuous, and Future Continuous tenses.
- “Done” is used as a past participle to indicate completed actions in the Present Perfect, Past Perfect, and Future Perfect tenses.
Additionally, we have discussed the use of these verbs in various tense forms, including Present Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect Continuous, Future Simple, and others. This information will help you better understand how to correctly use these verbs in English speech.
It is essential to remember that the proper use of these verbs contributes to the correct formation of tense forms and comprehension of English text. Learning these rules will facilitate communication and improve your English language skills.