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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Do Verb: Meanings, Usage, and Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：perform an action (do)

do 🔊

/duː/

To perform an action or activity; to work on something.

Do action verb washing dishes at kitchen sink

perform an action 🔊

➕

/pərˈfɔːrm æn ˈækʃən/

To carry out or execute a specific task, activity, or piece of work.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'don' (Germanic root), akin to Latin 'facere'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'DO it now!' – a tiny verb that gets things done.

📖 Example

I need to do my experiment in the science lab this afternoon. 🔊 I need to carry out my experiment in the science lab this afternoon.

🔗 Collocations

do homework – complete school assignments

do business – engage in commercial activities

do a favor – perform a kind act for someone

🔄 Synonyms

accomplish (v.) – to successfully complete something

execute (v.) – to carry out a plan or task

perform (v.) – to do an action or task

🚫 Antonyms

omit (v.) – to leave out or not do something

neglect (v.) – to fail to do something required

🌱 Derivatives

doing (n.) – the act of performing an action

done (adj.) – completed or finished

undo (v.) – to reverse or cancel a previous action

📖 Cultural Story

One of the most versatile verbs in English, 'do' evolved from Proto-Germanic *dōną. It functions both as a main verb and an auxiliary, forming questions and negations since early Middle English.

Meaning 2：auxiliary for questions (do)

do 🔊

/duː/

Used before another verb to form a question.

Do auxiliary verb question on smartphone screen

auxiliary for questions 🔊

➕

/ɔːɡˈzɪliəri fɔːr ˈkwestʃənz/

Used before a subject and the base form of another verb to form a question in the present or past tense.

📁 Category：Language Evolution 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Do you want to join the school football team this year? 🔊 Do you want to join the school football team this year?

🔗 Collocations

do you – used to form a question with the pronoun 'you'

does he – used to form a question with the pronoun 'he' in third person singular

did they – used to form a past-tense question with the pronoun 'they'

🔄 Synonyms

does (v.) – third person singular present form of 'do' used as an auxiliary

did (v.) – past tense form of 'do' used as an auxiliary

🌱 Derivatives

doing (n.) – the act of performing an action

done (adj.) – completed

doer (n.) – a person who performs actions