Level One
Lesson 12
do - present tense
The verb “do” is very important in the present tense. You use it as a main verb and as a helping verb.
- John does a lot of working during the day. (main verb)
- Sara does not work on the weekend. (helping verb)
- What do you do at work? (helping verb and main verb)
This old video that I made in 2010 may help you learn the difference between using “do” as a main verb and as a helping verb.
Remember: If “do” is a main verb, it requires an object to follow it:
- I do a lot of things during the day. (object = things)
- She does her shopping on the weekend. (object = shopping)
- They do the dishes in the sink. (object = dishes)
12a. the present tense ✍🏾
The main verb is in the present tense.
The verb “do” represents verbs of action.
singular
I do
you do
he does
she does
it does
plural
we do
you do
they do
singular
I work
you work
he works
she works
it works
plural
we work
you work
they work
The main verbs above are “work” and “do.” You may use both as action verbs. The verb “do” is used as a main verb or as a helping verb. Read the examples.
12a. Examples
- He works every day.
- He does a lot of work.
- I work every day.
- I do a lot of work.
- Most people work every day.
- They do a lot of work.
- Machines work.
- This sewing machine works.
- A machine can do a lot of work. (In this last example, “work” is a noun. The verb “do” is the main verb in the sentence.)
do – present tense (PDF)
Directions: Use the correct form of “do” in the present tense for each of these sentences.
1. She _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ her homework after school.
2. The students _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ their assignments in class.
3. Mario _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a lot of work on his house.
4. The housekeepers _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the vaccuuming every night.
5. Our mother _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the grocery shopping for our household.
6. Let’s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ it now.
7. We _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ our exercising at the gym.
8. Peter _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a lot of things with his kids.
9. You _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the dishes in the sink.
10. This car _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ all the driving by itself.
11. Just _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ your best.
12. Sara _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ yoga to keep fit.
13. What they _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ is their own business.
14. That _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ it!
15. Our grandmother _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the crossword puzzle every weekend.
16. I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ my laundry on the weekend.
17. Graciella _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ most of the cooking at her house.
18. Teachers _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ good work for their students.
19. Recycling waste _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ good things for the environment.
20. You _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the exercise at the end of the lesson.
After you finish this exercise, try to make each of the sentences above negative by using “do” as a helping verb.
