Many people get confused not knowing when to use verb forms "do" or "do", getting doubts about this verbal agreement, since the verb “do” is conjugated as an irregular verb and, sometimes, as an impersonal verb.
Read too: Did they stay or will they stay?
Do or do: what's the difference?
The verb "to do" can be conjugated as a irregular verb or, in certain contexts, as a impersonal verb, which confuses a lot of people. This is because impersonal verbs do not have a subject, so they can only be conjugated in the 3rd person singular.
When to correctly use “does”?
The verb form "does" corresponds to 3rd person singular in the present tense. However, it is necessary to understand when its use occurs as irregular verb or as impersonal verb.
Irregular verb
If there is a conjugation as irregular verb, the form “does” will be in a statement that presents subject, the one who performs the action, the one who “does” what is being stated.
Tip: in these cases, it would be possible to substitute the subject for the 1st or 2nd person, both singular and plural (“I”, “you”, “we”, “you”, “they” or “they”).
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
See some examples:
Is it over there does many amazing works since he graduated!
You does several yummy cakes!
Does so much, I don't know how you don't get tired.
In previous prayers, the subject of the verb "do" is, respectively, "she", "you" and a subject hidden, in all cases, corresponding to the 3rd person singular. note that it would be possible to replace the subjects by the 1st person singular, for example:
Me I do many amazing works since i graduated!
I make so much, I don't know how I don't get tired.
impersonal verb
O impersonal verb, on the other hand, is the one that no subject, being only conjugated in the 3rd person singular. When the verb "to do" has the sense of elapsed time or indicates phenomenon of nature, there is no subject. Note that they are stated without pronoun and that cannot be replaced by other persons in the discourse, such as the 1st person singular and the 3rd person plural, for example.
Read these examples:
Does so long we don't see each other!
Already does 84 years since this happened...
Does over 30°C now.
Does very cold days in Curitiba.
In the examples, there is no subject. That is why, O verb remains conjugated in the 3rd person singular, regardless of what the add-on looks like. It would not be possible to substitute a conjugation with the subject “I” (“do”) nor with the subject “they” or “they” (“do”).
Even in verbal phrases, if the verb "to do" is impersonal, the verb that accompanies it will also remain in the singular:
Already must do84 years since this happened...
Will doover 30°C now.
See too: Arrived or arrived?
When to correctly use “do”?
Irregular verb
The verb form "do" is used in the 3rd person conjugation of the plural form whenever there is a subject for the verb "to do".
Watch:
They do many amazing works since they graduated!
You do several yummy cakes!
do so much, I don't know how they don't get tired.
In the examples, there is a subject who performs the action, known to be a plural subject, even if it is hidden in the latter case.
solved exercises
Question 1 - (Cesgranrio) The highlighted verb form is used properly, in accordance with the standard rule regarding impersonal verbs, in:
A) Scholars around the world calculate that does two decades that global consumption surpassed the planet's total resilience.
B) The warning repeated by those interested in poverty reduction is: “How many years has that economic policies cause a huge social cost!”
C) The forest engineering course was included in the curriculum because did three semesters that the students demanded this new training.
D) Newspapers reported that during the climate conference, there were good opportunities to discuss topics relevant to the planet.
E) It is evident that, in matters of climate change, treat themselves of opinions that place environmentalists and economists in distinct groups.
Resolution
Alternative A. The impersonal verbs, in all alternatives, should be conjugated in the 3rd person singular, which only occurs in alternative A.
Question 2 - (Imagine)
Some verbs have particularities in their conjugation, and may be considered irregular verbs, conjugated in all verb tenses, verb modes and grammatical persons as well as impersonal verbs, not presenting a subject, when they will always be conjugated in the 3rd person of the singular. Check the alternative where the agreement with the impersonal verb is correct:
A) I've been working on this for about 15 years and I can't say I'm close to finishing it.
B) There were tears, many tears, but no one noticed.
C) Those who do nothing are always willing to criticize those who do something.
D) Men are distinguished by what they do, women by what they lead men to do.
Resolution
Alternative A, where the impersonal verb “does” is in the 3rd person singular. In alternative B, the impersonal verb is incorrectly conjugated in the 3rd person plural. In alternatives C and D, there is no impersonal verb.
By Guilherme Viana
grammar teacher
