does: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral (used universally across all registers)
Quick answer
What does “does” mean?
Third person singular present tense of the verb 'do', used as an auxiliary verb to form questions, negative statements, and to add emphasis, or as a main verb to indicate performing an action.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Third person singular present tense of the verb 'do', used as an auxiliary verb to form questions, negative statements, and to add emphasis, or as a main verb to indicate performing an action.
A grammatical function word primarily used to construct interrogative, negative, and emphatic structures in the present simple tense for third-person singular subjects (he, she, it, or singular noun).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or form. Both dialects use 'does' identically in standard grammar.
Connotations
None specific to either variety.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “does” in a Sentence
AUX + Subj + V_base (Does she work?)Subj + AUX + not + V_base (He does not know.)Subj + AUX + V_base (Emphatic: It does matter.)Subj + AUX + V_base (Main verb: She does her homework.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “does” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He does the washing-up every evening.
- Does this train stop at Reading?
American English
- She does her taxes online.
- Does it get cold here in winter?
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in formal and informal inquiries and statements: 'Does the report meet the criteria?'
Academic
Used to formulate research questions or hypotheses: 'Does increased sunlight affect plant growth?'
Everyday
Ubiquitous in daily conversation for questions and negatives: 'Does this bus go to the centre?'
Technical
Used in logical or computational queries: 'Does the function return a value?'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “does”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “does”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “does”
- *He do not like it. (Correct: He does not like it.)
- *Does she works here? (Correct: Does she work here?) - forgetting base form after 'does'.
- Omitting 'does' in questions: *How she get to work? (Correct: How does she get to work?)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Use 'does' with third person singular subjects (he, she, it, or a singular noun). Use 'do' with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns.
In English, the auxiliary 'do/does' is required to form most present simple tense questions (except with 'be' or modal verbs). It inverts with the subject, while the main verb stays in its base form.
Yes, in this emphatic affirmative construction, 'does' is used to add strong emphasis or contrast (e.g., to contradict a previous assumption). Without emphasis, you would simply say 'He likes it'.
No, the past tense form for all persons is 'did'. 'Does' is strictly present tense, third person singular.
Third person singular present tense of the verb 'do', used as an auxiliary verb to form questions, negative statements, and to add emphasis, or as a main verb to indicate performing an action.
Does is usually neutral (used universally across all registers) in register.
Does: in British English it is pronounced /dʌz/, and in American English it is pronounced /dʌz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “what does it matter?”
- “does the trick”
- “does your head in (UK informal)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
He DOES, She DOES, It DOES. Remember the 's' at the end of the verb matches the 's' in 'does' for third-person singular.
Conceptual Metaphor
GRAMMAR IS A FRAMEWORK (does is a key structural component in building sentences).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence is grammatically correct?