do
part of speech
verb, auxiliary (do, does, did, done, doing; don't, doesn't, didn't); noun (a do — a party, UK casual)
meaning for a pupil
1) To do is to carry out an action: do your homework. tree →
2) Do helps make questions and «not» sentences: Do you like cats? I don't know. tree →
3) Do can stand for a verb already said: «Who ate it?» «I did.» tree →
4) To do well or badly is to get on well or badly. tree →
5) «Will do» or «That will do» means that is enough or that is fine. tree →
6) (casual, UK, Ireland, Australia) A do is a party: a birthday do. tree →
7) (rough) «Do» can mean hurt or punish: «I'll do you!», «he got done for speeding» (caught by the police); «done in» means very tired. tree →
8) (formal) The exam voice says «perform», «carry out», «execute», «undertake», «complete» where a child would say «do». tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the Torah it often means to keep God's commands, as in "do" the laws and statutes. Interpretation: Tradition stresses that action is central: Israel said "we will do and we will hear," putting deeds first. In the primary lessons: a helping word in questions («How many cards does Ben have now?»); «I cannot do that»; in class «do a sum», «do the dishes», «do your best»; in everyday life «How do you do?», «That will do» (that is enough), «do up» (fasten), «do without»; in casual talk «a do» (a party), «what are you doing?» texted as «wyd», «done in» (very tired); in rough talk «I'll do you» (a threat); in the exam voice «perform the following operation», «carry out», «undertake»
examples
- And they did eat there by the heap. (Torah GEN.31.46, JPS 1917) tree →
- Now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.' (Torah GEN.31.16, JPS 1917) tree →
- And also unto thy bondwoman thou shalt do likewise. (Torah DEU.15.17, JPS 1917) tree →
- Thus shalt thou do six days. (Prophets JOS.6.3, JPS 1917) tree →
- And the people did yet corruptly. (Writings 2CH.27.2, JPS 1917) tree →
- Why did the knees receive me? (Writings JOB.3.12, JPS 1917) tree →
- How many cards does Ben have now? tree →
- How many cards did Anna find altogether? tree →
- Do you have more pens than Ali? tree →
- Did you do your homework? tree →
- I don't like spinach. tree →
- Let's do a puzzle. tree →
- Do your best in the race! tree →
- She does karate after school. tree →
- «Who wants cake?» «I do!» tree →
- We're having a do for nan's 80th, need 20 chairs tree →
- Touch my bike and I'll do you. tree →
- Perform the indicated operation and state the result: 17 − 9. tree →
note
No operation clue; «did» points to the past, «does … now» to the present. After does/did use the plain verb: «Does she have?», not «Does she has?». He/she/it does; I/you/we/they do. Past «did», past participle «done». «I'll do you» in rough talk is a threat or a bluff, not a task. «a do» in UK casual talk is a party. «Perform the operation» in an exam just means «do the sum».
In the corpora
- And He said: 'What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground.
- Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
- And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
- Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
- And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done unto him.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «do» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.