You may want to confirm a fact that someone doubts, or acknowledge one point before adding a contrast. Stressed do, does and did can give an affirmative statement this emphasis.

The idea

In present simple affirmative statements, use do/does + base verb; in past simple, use did + base verb. Stress the auxiliary when speaking. The tense stays present or past simple. An imperative with do, such as Do come in, can sound warmly encouraging, especially in British English.

Examples

  • I do remember your name; I just didn't recognise your voice.
  • Mina does know the route, although she has never driven it.
  • We did send the invitation on Monday.
  • He does enjoy cooking, but he dislikes washing up.
  • I did put the keys in the drawer; I checked twice.
  • Do come in and sit by the fire.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not put -s after does or a past form after did. In statements with an existing auxiliary or be, stress that verb instead: I CAN help or I AM ready, not I do can help or I do am ready.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. Mina does ___ the route. (know / knows)

    Show answer or example answer

    know

    Does carries present tense and third-person agreement. The following verb stays in its base form know.

  2. Choose the correct option. We did ___ the invitation on Monday. (send / sent)

    Show answer or example answer

    send

    Did already marks past time. Use the base form send, not the past form sent, after it.

  3. Choose the correct option. I ___ remember your name. (do / does)

    Show answer or example answer

    do

    The subject I takes do in the present. Does is used with he, she, it or an equivalent singular subject.

Use it today

Imagine someone thinks you forgot their name or failed to send an invitation. Reply with do or did, then add a helpful detail. Say the reply aloud, stressing the auxiliary without changing the main verb.