Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects

Difference Between Do and Does

Do vs Does

The word “do” is a verb which means “to carry out, to bring about, to perform, or to execute.” It is used to refer to something which a person acts on in response to another person’s wish or his own. It is a transitive verb that needs a direct subject and an object. An example is the sentence: “You do the job.” Here, “you” is the subject and “job” is the direct object which stipulates what is to be done.

It is also used as a substitute or auxiliary verb which gives more information about the main verb such as its voice, aspect, emphasis, or modality. For example: “I do want to go there myself.” In this sentence “do” is used to emphasize the person’s will to go somewhere. The word “do” is also used as a helping verb to avoid repetition. Examples are: “The exercises allow them to run and play as children do. If you have to shout your heart out, do it outside.”

It is also used to form present and past tenses that express emphasis such as this example: “Please do be careful.” It is also used in legal language such as this example: “I do hereby declare that what I said is true.” In sentences that ask questions, “do” is also used together with personal pronouns in forming questions in the present simple tense. An example is this: “Do I go to the beach too?”

When the question is with a third person singular pronoun, the word “does” is used. Like these examples: “Does he go to the beach too? Does it have to be so difficult?” Here the word “does” is used instead of “do.” “Does” is the third person singular present tense of the verb “do.” It is used when referring to a person or a thing in the third person. An example is this sentence: “She does the job more effectively than he does.”

While the verb “do” is used when referring to more than one person or thing, the word “does” is used in sentences that refer to a single person or thing. For example: “It does look nice on you. They do look nice together.”

The word “do” comes from the Middle English word “don” which in turn comes from the Old English word which is similar to the Old High German word “tuon” meaning “to do.” They are derived from the Latin words “dere” meaning “to put” and “facere” meaning “to make.” Its first known use in the English language was before the 12th century.

Summary”

1.“Do” is a word which is used as a transitive as well as an auxiliary verb in a sentence while the word “does” is one of its conjugated forms.
2.The words “do” and “does” mean the same, that is, “to carry out or to perform an action.” “Do” is used in the first and second persons; “does” is used in the third person.
3.“Do” is used when referring to two or more persons or things while “does” is used when referring to a single person or thing.

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20 Comments

  1. Thanks for the information and I would like you a favour, example your name is “Polo” so should I say (1)Does Polo understood the matter (2)Do Polo understood the mattress?

  2. i had a discussion with a friend and we ended up arguing about do or does. can you help me with this one?

    we all have our own ways, but i guess youngest child do things differently.

    or

    we all have our own ways, but i guess youngest child does things differently.

  3. Question: Do anyone know where to purchase a drawstring backpack? Is this correct???

    • No, it should be “does” (In this case, we are looking at “does” as a present tense of “did”.)
      [http://www.differencebetween.net/language/grammar-language/difference-between-does-and-did/]

  4. Your work does well.
    Your work do well.which one is correct?

  5. What does gator meat taste like?
    What do gator meat taste like?
    Which one is correct?

  6. Which is correct?

    The extreme burden placed on the system by the new reforms, (does or do) not serve the overwhelming majority of people.

  7. Do the government or does the government. Which is correct.

  8. Just because you’re breathing don’t mean you’re alive.
    Just because you’re breathing doesn’t mean you’re alive.
    The second one’s correct, right? The thing is I just can’t figure out why we use does instead of do in this sentence

    • In this case, we are looking at “does” as a present tense of “did”.
      [http://www.differencebetween.net/language/grammar-language/difference-between-does-and-did/]

  9. What should be used for a person who uses they/them pronouns?
    “Do they like pizza?” OR “Does they like pizza?”
    The first one sounds right, but the second one could be correct because it’s for the singular person/thing?

  10. Would it be…

    Does the type of oats matter?
    or
    Do the type of oats matter?

  11. I want to go home
    I do want to go home
    Which sentence is correct between the two.

  12. Interested!

  13. The extreme burden placed on the system by the new reforms, (does or do) not serve the overwhelming majority of people.

    it should be “do not serve the overwhelming majority of people”

  14. I’m in the present, but the action is in the past. What would it be? What does the voice said? Or what did the voice said?

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