How To Conjugate The Verb Do-Part 2

We covered the 1st part of this lesson already.  This lesson is how to conjugate the verb do-part 2.  It’s about how to do that in the past & future tense.

We learned about how to do it in the present tense in the first lesson.

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There are a couple of different ways we can go about this.

In my opinon, one of the ways is a bit less complicated and what I believe is best, espeically for those who are beginning level English learners.

What’s The Less Complicated Way?

Let’s begin with the past tense of the verb do.

Remember, all action verbs are things we do, regardless of the tense.

The past tense of the verb do is did.

You may remember in the first part of this lesson about present tense, I said I think it’s best to use the words do and does before the action verb in all sentences, because it makes it easier to change positive statements to questions and negative statements.

The same is true for the past tense and the word did.

I did say that.

I could have also said, I said that.  The two sentences mean exactly same thing but I think the first way is better, at least for beginners.

Once you’ve gotten a better understanding of the language, the other way would be okay.

However, my suggestion is only for the past tense, not necessarily the future tense.  I will explain that later.

When asking a question in the past tense, we use the word did before the subject and we use either the word do or another verb after the subject.

For example, did you do the dishes or did they go on vacation?

What About Future Tense?

The future tense is easier to remember and although there are variations for how to use it, there is one way that can be used that never changes.

The word will means something is in the future.

We don’t need to say do after will and before an action verb or a state of being verb.  We only need to say will.

We can always use the word will before an action verb or a state of being verb and it always means future.

For example, I will study, or I will be there.

It’s not often that there aren’t exceptions in English, but this one time when there are no exceptions to the rule.

However, there are times when we do need to say do after will.  There are times when we are talking or writing about something that we will do in the future.  In those cases, we do need to say will do.

For example, I will do my homework or I will cook dinner.

In other words, if use the word do to talk about something in the future, we say will do.

When asking a question in the future tense we say the word will before the subject and the word do or another verb after the subject.

For example, will you do the laundry or will we eat dinner at 6:00?

Can We Use The Past And Future Tenses Together?

Yes, we can.

For example, I did say I will do the laundry, or I did say I will go with you.

If we use past and present tenses together in the same sentence, we do exactly what we just learned to indicate which is past and which is future.

Furthermore, we can also use the present tense with either or both the past and future tense in the same sentence as long as we follow the same rules.

For example, she did say she is here and that she will be here for 10 minutes, or Bill did plan to go but he changed his mind and will do something else.

Why Is It Important To Understand How To Conjugate The Verb Do?

Whether or not we actually use the words do or did in a sentence, or if they are simply implied, we are always, if not very often in action.  That means we are often doing something.  If we aren’t doing something, we are at least always in a state of being.

The verbs be and do are two of the most common verbs in the English language and maybe many other, if not all other languages.  In nearly every sentence, either or both of some form of one or both of these verbs are either directly used or implied.

Knowing which tense we are using is important to be able to give context to what is being said or written.

I tell all my students and I will tell you, if you plan to learn English, it’s important that you master how to conjugate the verbs be and do.  You will be using them all the time.  They are foundational words in the language.

Let’s Bring This To A Close

In this lesson, how to conjugate the verb do-part 2, and part 1 before it, we learned how to properly use the verb do in the present, past, and future tenses.

I promise you that you will be using one form or another of this little word, much more often than you may realize.

By being able to properly use the word and which tense is being used is essential to learning the English language.  I can’t stress that strongly enough.

I suggest that, using the worksheets I have included in this lesson, with all the examples, that you practice them daily until they become second nature to you and you know them and understand them.

You will be glad you did.

Leave questions and comments in the box below.  I will promptly reply.

Watch YouTube video that corresponds with this lesson

Practice the different forms of the verb do.