This week, we answer several questions about how to use the verb
"DO".
about how to
use: sobre cómo utilizar;
QUESTIONS: Cem in Turkey wants to
know what "DO" means when used before a present tense verb, such as in the
statement, "You DO bring up a good point".
Turkey:
Turquía; what DO means: qué significa (el auxiliar) DO; when used:
cuando se lo utiliza; such as: como por ejemplo; statement:
oración (gramatical); you DO bring up: realmente mencionas un tema
interesante (uso enfático);
Jean-Claude in Belgium
wants to know why a Learning English writer put "DOES" before the verb "restrict" in a statement about Trump and student visas.
(New US rule DOES restrict student visas).
Belgium:
Bélgica; DOES restrict: limita severamente (uso enfático);
Issa in Mali wants to know
what it means when we use "DO" in statements like, "I DO have something".
Mali:
Malí (estado africano); I DO have something: en verdad algo tengo (uso
enfático);
And Amauri in Brazil wants
to know why we might use "DO" in a statement like "I DID spend too much time".
Brazil:
Brasil; we might use: podríamos; I DID spend too much time:
realmente perdí demasiado tiempo (uso enfático);
ANSWERS: Hello Cem, Jean-Claude,
Issa and Amauri! All of your examples have
one thing in common: They use the verb "DO" in positive
statements.
all of your
examples: todos vuestros ejemplos; in common: en común; positive
statements: oraciones afirmativas o positivas;
You probably know that "DO" can act as a main verb or an auxiliary verb,
depending on how it is used. Your examples use it as an auxiliary verb, also
known as a "helping verb".
you probably know
that: probablemente ya sepas que; can act as a main verb: puede
actuar como verbo principal; auxiliar verb: verbo auxiliar; depending
on how: dependiendo de cómo se lo utiliza; use it as: lo usan como;
auxiliar verb = helping verb: verbo auxiliar;
THE HELPING VERB "DO"
When "DO" is a helping
verb, it helps us do many things, such as:
1. Form questions, as in,
"DO you play football?".
2. Give short answers, as
in, "Yes, I DO".
3. Make negative statements, as in,
"I DO NOT play football".
4. (and) Give negative
commands, as in, "DO NOT play football".
it helps us
do: nos ayuda a hacer; such as: tales como; form questions:
formular preguntas; as in: como por ejemplo; short answers:
respuestas cortas o breves; negative statements: oraciones negativas;
commands: órdenes, instrucciones;
"DO" TO EXPRESS EMPHASIS
We do not normally use the helping verb "DO" in positive statements, such as, "I
play football". However, we can use it in such statements to show
emphasis.
express
emphasis: enfatizar, recalcar; we do not normally use: normalmente no
se utiliza; however: sin embargo; we can use it: podemos
usarlo sin problemas; to show emphasis: para enfatizar, destacar o
recalcar;
For instance, suppose
someone was not sure about whether or not you play football. You might make the
answer clear by saying, "I DO play football". Or, suppose your friends
were saying they play basketball. But you play a different sport: football. You
might say, "I don’t play basketball. But I DO play football".
for instance
= for example: por ejemplo; suppose: suponte (que); about whether
or not: sobre si o no; you might make the answer clear: podría
aclarar mejor la respuesta; by saying: diciendo; I DO play football:
claro que juego fútbol;
Use of "DO" in the
positive statement "I DO play football" makes the point stronger and clearer.
makes the
point: transforma al tema conversado (en una idea); stronger and clearer:
más fuerte y más clara;
Similarly, in the examples
you asked about, the helping verb "DO" was used to give extra emphasis to the
positive.
similarly:
de igual modo; you asked about: que ustedes consultaron; was used:
fue utilizado; to give extra emphasis: para enfatizar o recalcar; xxx: xxx;
In speaking, when we use
"DO" in this way, we say it a little louder than the words around it. Listen
again: "I DO play football". In writing, we sometimes italicize
the word to show the emphasis.
in speaking:
en conversación; in this way: de esta manera; we say it: lo
pronunciamos; a little louder: algo más fuerte; than the words:
que las palabras; around it: que lo rodean (al auxiliar DO); in
writing: en redacción; we sometimes italicize the word: ponemos la
palabra en cursiva o bastardilla; to show the emphasis: para mostrar el
énfasis.
That’s Ask a Teacher for
this week. I’m Alice Bryant.
