I did call!

  • B2 · Upper-intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • emphatic do, does, did

Emphatic do, does and did to insist, confirm and contrast: I did call him! I do care about this. I didn't fix the sink, but I did empty the bucket. The student reads a couple's morning argument about the plumber, tells emphatic do from the other do's, fixes the verb after it, and plays a "that's not true!" game with the teacher.

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I did call!She does like it.I AM listening.

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: the plumberReading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the emphasisGrammar exercise
  6. 6Emphatic do, does, didGrammar rule
  7. 7Which do?Grammar exercise
  8. 8Not true!Grammar exercise
  9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  11. 11That's not true!Speaking practice
  12. 12About youGrammar exercise
  13. 13Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: which sentence is correct?Grammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: but I did…Grammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: a reply to an upset friendDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. When something breaks at home, do you try to fix it yourself or call someone?
  2. What is something people often think you don't like, but you really do?
  3. Do you remember a small argument that turned out to be a misunderstanding?

Grammar rule

Emphatic do, does, did

do / does / did + base verb = "it IS true!"

In a positive sentence, we can put do, does or did before the verb to make it stronger. In speech, it is always stressed: I DID feed the cat.

Time and personFormExample
now: I, you, we, theydo + base verbWe do need a bigger car.
now: he, she, itdoes + base verbMy grandma does know a lot about wine.
past: everyonedid + base verbThey did warn us about the ice.

When we use it

UseExample
to insist when someone doubts you"You never text me back." "I do text you back!"
to agree that something is true"Your son plays well." "He does play well, doesn't he?"
to contrast with a negativeI didn't go to the gym, but I did walk home.
something true, although it seems unlikelyIt looks expensive, but it does cost less than the others.
warm invitations (a little formal)Do stay for dinner. Do call us when you land.

Watch out

  • The verb after do is the base verb: I did called → I did call. He does likes → he does like.
  • Not with be, a modal or another helping verb. Stress that word instead: I do am tired → I AM tired. She does can swim → She CAN swim.
  • In questions and negatives, do is just the normal helping verb (Did you call? I didn't call.). Only a positive sentence with do + verb is emphatic.
  • do can also be the main verb (I do the dishes; everything you do). That is not emphasis.
  • really usually comes before do: I really do like it. (I do really like it is fine, too.)

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← Unit 7I didn’t, but she did