Both do and does are present tense forms of the verb do. Which is the correct form to use depends on the subject of your sentence.
In this article, we’ll explain the difference between do and does, cover when and how to use each form, and provide examples of how they’re used in sentences.
⚡ Quick summary
Do is an irregular verb, which means that it has different forms depending on tense and the subject it’s being used with. Both do and does are used for the present tense. The form does is only used with third person singular subjects, such as the pronouns he, she, and it, as in She does yoga. The form do is used for all other subjects, including for first person (I and we) and second person pronouns (you) and the third person pronoun they (regardless of whether it’s singular or plural), as in I do yoga, but they do not. The past tense form of do is did, and the past participle form is done.
do vs. does
The verb do is considered an irregular verb because its past tense and past participle are not formed by adding -ed or -d to the end of the base form as is the case in most verbs. In fact, do has a particularly unusual conjugation pattern compared to other verbs.
Here are the different forms of do:
- do: Base/infinitive; used for present tense except with third person singular subjects (other than the singular they, which uses do regardless of whether it’s singular or plural).
Example: I do my homework as soon as I get home.
- does: Used for third person singular present tense (other than singular they).
Example: She does her homework as soon as she gets home.
- did: past tense
Example: She did her homework as soon as she got home.
- done: past participle
Example: She had done homework for three hours after she got home.
- doing: present participle and gerund
Example: She is doing her homework.
The forms do, does, and did are also used in the negative contractions don’t (do not), doesn’t (does not), and didn’t (did not).
For example:
- Don’t open the window.
- Luke doesn’t know how to cook.
- Fortunately, the flowers didn’t wither.
Verbs similar to do
The irregular verb do has a unique conjugation pattern. Some other irregular verbs that have an unusual conjugation pattern somewhat similar to do are go, be, and have.
| Base/Infinitive | Present Tense | Past Tense | Past Participle | Present Participle |
| do | do/does | did | done | doing |
| go | go/goes | went | gone | going |
| be | is/are | was/were | been | being |
| have | has/have | had | had | having |
To learn more about the forms of the verb be, check our guides to is vs. are, been vs. being, and has been vs. have been.
Examples of do, does, did, and done used in a sentence
The only thing left to do is look at how we typically use the forms do, did, and does in sentences.
- I’ve never done yoga, and I’m not sure if they do, but I’m sure that he does.
- I remember what I did last time, but I’m not sure if I should do it again.
- She did everything she could to make sure it was done by the deadline.
- I can’t do even a fraction of the amazing things that my brother does on a regular basis.
- We did the vacuuming yesterday, the morning crew does the laundry on Fridays, and the night crew will do the floor waxing next month.
FAQs
"Do" is used with I, you, we, they, and plural subjects, while "does" is used with he, she, it, and singular subjects. "Do" represents the present tense and is used for general actions and questions, while "does" also represents the present tense but is used for singular actions and questions.
Do or does question example? ›
We use does for the third person singular (she/he/it) and do for the others. We use do and does with question words like where, what and when: Where do Angela and Rita live? What does Angela do?
When did we use do and does? ›
Do: present tense. "I do agree with you." Did: past tense. "Jane did send the letter." Does: present tense. "The editor does need to know the facts."
What is the difference between how do you do and how are you? ›
They mean the same thing, but "How do you do?" is more formal and reserved for the first time you meet someone. "How are you doing?" is more casual and could be used at introduction, but generally is used when you are fairly familiar with a peer.
Is it do your friends or does your friends? ›
“friends” is a PLURAL SUBJECT. Therefore the form of the verb must agree with this PLURAL SUBJECT, and be in the plural subject form, which is “do”. So “ Do his friends…..?” Is correct.
What is the formula for do and does? ›
Simple Present Tense Grammar Rules Table
| Subjects | Affirmative | Question |
|---|
| I, You, We, They | Verb 1 Example: I / You / We/ They save money. | Do + Subject + Verb 1 Example: Do I / You / We / They save money? |
| He, She, It | Verb + s Example: He / She saves money. | Does + Subject + Verb 1 Example: Does He/She save money? |
May 31, 2023
"Do" is used with first, second, and third-person plural pronouns, such as "We do our part," "You do your homework," and "They do their chores," while "does" is used with third-person singular pronouns, such as "He does his job well" or "She does her makeup."
Does anyone or do anyone is correct? ›
Which is correct between "do anyone of you" or "does anyone of you"? “Does anyone of you …?” is correct. Because *anyone* is singular, it's v verb must be singular. Thus, “does” would be correct.
What we use with someone does or do? ›
“Someone does” is correct. “Someone” refers to one person and so requires the singular verb “does.” In this instance, “do” would be used with a plural subject, such as “people.” Someone does. People do.
Where do we use do? ›
Do is one of three auxiliary verbs in English: be, do, have. We use do to make negatives (do + not), to make question forms, and to make the verb more emphatic. I didn't see you at the concert the other night. Do they open at nine o'clock on weekdays?
The forms of to do are do (base), does (third-person singular), did (past tense), done (past participle), and doing (present participle).
Do we use does or do with children? ›
"Does" mostly used for the he or she or singular person. While the "Do " Represent the more than one. As we see n the sentence it is mentioned the plural term "Children" which means the more than one thus "Do" Will be the answer here.
Do people still say how do you do? ›
It's only said on being introduced to someone - by someone else. It is somewhat formal - and rarely heard in the US.
Why do we say "how do you do"? ›
Originally, in the 1600s, this expression was an inquiry after a person's health or standing, how do you do meaning “how do you fare?” Today we usually express this as How are you ? or How are you doing ? or How goes it ? or How's it going ?
What do we use with "we do" or "does"? ›
Subject/Verb Agreement Using to do as an Action Verb
| Subject | Forms of to do in each Tense |
|---|
| Present | Past |
|---|
| I / You / We / They | do | did |
| He / She / It | does | did |
do: Base/infinitive; used for present tense except with third person singular subjects (other than the singular they, which uses do regardless of whether it's singular or plural). Example: I do my homework as soon as I get home.
