Learn to Write English Clearly and Correctly

Lesson 1:  To
do or not to do, that is the question?

DO sounds
like doo,
as in Ski-doo,
a motorized recreational vehicle for zooming
around on snow, or as Scooby-doo, the canine companion of a group of teenage
detectives on a popular cartoon show.

Dictionary definitions include: 1. to perform, 2. to bring about, 3. to
pay (as honor), 4. to
finish,   5. to
prepare,           6. to cook, 7. to act or behave, 8. to fare in health, 9. to suffice,
10. to avail

Principle forms of DO:

DO is a very useful word in English, but
sometimes it is used too often.  Here are some sentences  illustrating the different definitions of DO. 
The sentence number will match the definition number above.

• 1. I am going to do a Brahma�s lullaby in the concert
  tomorrow.
• 2. The doctor said it will do no harm to stay up late.
• 3. Please do them the courtesy of responding to the
  invitation.
• 4. These tasks must be done before you leave.
• 5. Let me do the books tonight while you rest.
• 6. It is my turn to do supper.
• 7. Can you do tricks on a skateboard?
• 8. How are you doing today, Mrs. Jones?
• 9. "No more coffee. That does it for me," John
  told the waitress.
• 10. Those old boards will do for the tree fort
  walls..

Exercise A: Replace the underlined words with a form of DO. 
Write the answer on the line at the end of the sentence.  Try to figure
out which definition is illustrated by each sentence.

1. Mary said she had to set her hair
before the dance. __________________________

2. Jim was tired after working a
double shift in the factory. _________________________

3. The gymnast performed a
complicated flip in her dismount from the high bar. __________________

4. That second piece of pie was enough to satisfy
me. ________________________

5. Will space exploration bring about
good or evil? ________________________

6. The citizens paid homage to the
aging former president. _________________________

7. The veterinarian asked the couple how
their new puppy was feeling. _____________________

8. Mr. Harris loved to barbecue
chicken on the grill. _______________________

9. Bob's mother said he couldn't go out
until he finished his homework, ________________________

10. I used to prepare my own taxes.
__________________________

The verb DO is over-used by many
English-speaking people.  Here are some sentences that would be more
accurate or more interesting if a verb other than DO were used.

1. The cowboy who had been shot said to his
partner, "I'm done for.  Go on without me."

2. Harold's wife complained, "Are you
still doing those taxes?"

3. Are the steaks done yet?

4. My old car can only do 45 uphill.

5. After completing the five-mile run, Jack
said, "That will do it for me."

6. Alicia does her nails every other day.

7. Harry did a crossword puzzle before work
every day.

8. Mark's band does mostly classic rock
songs.

9. Jane does her laundry at night when the Laundromat
is almost empty.

10. My friend thought I did her wrong when I
didn't invite her to my party.

Exercise B: Rewrite each of the sentences above using a verb
other than DO in its various forms.  Be careful to keep the same
meaning as the original sentence.  You may have to change other words as
well.

1.
___________________________________________________________________

2.
___________________________________________________________________

3.
___________________________________________________________________

4.
___________________________________________________________________

5.
___________________________________________________________________

6. ___________________________________________________________________

7.
___________________________________________________________________

8.
____________________________________________________________________________

9. ____________________________________________________________________________

10.
__________________________________________________________________

Exercise C: Cross out the incorrect form of DO in the following
sentences.

1. John hopes that he (does) (has done)
better on the next test.

2. The kangaroo (is doing) (do) amusing
tricks in the show.

3. Serena (does) (did) all her chores
last night.

4. The girl on the bicycle (has done)
(have done) well in the contest

5. It (do) (does) me good to watch my
children play happily.

6. Sixty more bricks (will do) (will
doing) to complete the wall. 

Examination: Fill the blanks in the
following sentences with a form of the verb DO.

1. We ended the camping trip because the
rain, the mud and the insects finally _______ it for us.

2. The doctor asked the sobbing little boy
how he was __________.

3. You must at least ___________your
mother-in-law the courtesy of being polite.

4. Greta ___________a turkey when the oven
blew up.

5. After Anna had been crying and stamping
her feet for three minutes, her father told her firmly, "That
_____________, young lady!  Sit down now!"

6. The chattering squirrel in the tree
_____________the same thing today as it had done yesterday.

7. William was glad he _____________his
homework before going to the dance.

8. Girls usually ________________better than
boys in spelling bees.

9. The college student ______________much
research before beginning the term paper.

10, This lesson is
finally _______________.

Exercise
A:

Exercise
B:

1. I'm done for.  =  I'm
finished.  I'm dying.

2. doing  =  preparing,
figuring out

3. done  =  cooked,
finished, ready

4. do  =  drive,
accomplish, achieve, reach

5. do (it) =  suffice

6. does  =  prepares,
polishes, files, cleans

7. did  =  worked on,
finished, completed

8. does  =  performs, plays

9. does  =  washes, cleans

10. did  =  treated,
behaved wrongly

Exercise
C: These are the verb forms that should remain in the sentences after you cross
the other ones out.

Examination: