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The Emphatic Do

This document discusses the use of auxiliary verbs do, does, and did for emphatic stress. It notes that these verbs are normally used to form questions and negative sentences but can also be used in affirmative sentences to emphasize something strongly. When used for emphasis, the auxiliary verb should be stressed through louder volume, longer pronunciation, or higher tone. Care must be taken to use the base form of the main verb after an emphatic auxiliary do form.

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Loraine Causado
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366 views

The Emphatic Do

This document discusses the use of auxiliary verbs do, does, and did for emphatic stress. It notes that these verbs are normally used to form questions and negative sentences but can also be used in affirmative sentences to emphasize something strongly. When used for emphasis, the auxiliary verb should be stressed through louder volume, longer pronunciation, or higher tone. Care must be taken to use the base form of the main verb after an emphatic auxiliary do form.

Uploaded by

Loraine Causado
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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USING AUXILIARY DO for emphatic stress.

I do have an ear for music.

She does have an ear for music.

We do speak English.

I did travel to the United States.


We normally use do or does + infinitive to form questions and in
negative sentences in simple present.
Does for the third person singular: he, she, it
Do for: I, you, we, they

Do you speak English?


Yes, I do.
Does Ana speak English?
Yes, she does.
We do not normally use do or does in affirmative sentences, but
we can use them for emphatic stress when we feel strongly about
something:

Even if I don't have a head for figures, I do have a way with


words.
She thinks he doesn't love her, but he does love her.
You do look pretty in that new outfit! Quite stunning!
I don't see very much of my old friends now, but I do call them.
When we are using the auxiliaries do and does for emphatic
stress like this, we give them extra stress in pronunciation to
make them sound louder, longer or higher in tone.
I do love you.
He does have a car.
You do look pretty.
Be careful: Use a base form after a form of the auxiliary do.
She has an eye for detail
She does have an eye for detail.
The same rules apply when using did in the simple past tense. It
is normally used for making questions and in negative sentences.
Did you go to the beach last Sunday?
No, I didn’t
Did you have a pet when you were younger?
Yes, I did.

And can also be used for emphatic stress in affirmative


sentences:
I did go to the beach last Sunday.
He did like most of his coworkers, but he didn’t like his boss.

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