Do vs Does
Both, do and does, are present forms of the verb ‘to do,’ but there is difference between do and does in their usage. However, to understand this difference between do and does in usage, one must first understand the basic concept. To clear the confusion in using do and does, one must pay good attention to the difference between do and does. It is important to know that both the words are used as verbs. The verb do is used in the first person and second person. On the other hand, the verb does is used in the third person singular only. This is the main difference between the two words.
What does Do mean?
Do means to perform an action.The word do is used in the first and second person in the present tense as well as plural nouns.Observe the two sentences given below.
I do it every day.
We do it for the sake of our people.
In both the sentences, you can find that the word do is used in the case of the first person in the present tense. Look at the sentences given below.
You do it today itself.
You do it for the sake of your child.
In both the sentences, you can find that the word do is used in the case of the second person. Have a look at the following sentences too.
They do the laundry every morning.
The policemen do the duty to their country.
The first sentence mentioned above, have they as the subject. They is the plural of the third person. Then the second sentence has policemen, a plural noun, as its subject. Therefore, you can understand that in the present tense, do is also used with any plural noun or pronoun.
Sometimes the verb do is added to another verb just to put emphasis on the action. Observe the sentences given below.
I do get up early in the morning.
We do prepare different kinds of food.
In both the sentences, you can find that the word do is used to emphasize an action. In the first sentence, the verb do is used to emphasize the action of getting up. On the other hand, the verb do is used in the second sentence to emphasize the action of preparing.
What does Does mean?
Does also means to perform an action. The word does is used with only the third person singular nouns in the present tense. Observe the two sentences given below.
He does it daily.
She does it for him.
In both the sentences, the word does is used in the case of the third person only. Since third person has three kinds of usages in he, she and it, all the three have the same verbal ending, namely, does. This is an important observation to make regarding the usage of the verb does.
What is the difference between Do and Does?
• The word do is used in the first and second person in the present tense as well as plural nouns.
• The word does is used with only the third person singular nouns in the present tense.
• Sometimes the verb do is added to another verb just to put emphasis on the action.