What is the past tense of "do"?

The past simple of "do" is "did". I do my homework every evening.

What is the past participle of "do"?

The past participle of "do" is "done". Use it after have/has/had: "I have done".

What is a common mistake with "do"?

Wrong: "He do his work very well.". Correct: "He does his work very well.". Third person singular 'he' requires 'does' not 'do'.

ESLBUZZ - Education for Students of Language

Q: Is "do" regular or irregular?

"Do" is an irregular English verb. Pattern: irregular: do-did-done.

Q: How do you pronounce "do"?

/duː/ — One long /uː/ vowel like in 'true' or 'blue'. Stress on the single syllable.

Look up another verb

All 12 Tenses of "Do"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "do" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I do`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I did`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will do`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am doing`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was doing`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be doing`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have done`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had done`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have done`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been doing`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been doing`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been doing`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Do" — Did

The past simple of "do" is "did". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "do" is irregular, "did" is not formed by adding -ed — you have to memorize this form. See our simple past tense guide for a deeper explanation of the simple past.

Past Participle of "Do" — Done

The past participle of "do" is "done". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have done"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was done"). Because "do" is irregular, "done" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.

Is "Do" Regular or Irregular?

"Do" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "do", past simple "did", and past participle "done". The 3rd-person singular present is "does" and the present participle/gerund is "doing". Conjugation pattern: irregular: do-did-done.

Conjugation pattern: irregular: do-did-done

How to Pronounce "Do" and Its Forms

Do: /duː/ — Stress pattern: O

One long /uː/ vowel like in 'true' or 'blue'. Stress on the single syllable.

Common mispronunciation of "do"

Sometimes shortened; the /uː/ should be a long clear vowel sound.

How to Use "Do" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use 'do' for general actions: 'Do the dishes', 'Do your work'. Also used as auxiliary: 'Do you like it?'.

S + V + object
S + V + gerund
Do + S + V (questions)

Example Sentences with "Do" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: I do my homework every evening. A1

Common Collocations with "Do"

do homework — She does her homework after dinner.
do the dishes — I do the dishes every evening.
do business — We do business with several countries.
do a favor — Could you do me a favor?
do your best — Just do your best on the test.

When to Use "Do" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

perform — for formal or skilled actions and activities
carry out — for completing specific tasks or instructions
execute — for formal or technical implementation of tasks

Common Mistakes with "Do"

Wrong: He do his homework.
Correct: He does his homework.
Add "s" to "do" with third-person singular (he/she/it).
Wrong: I don't did it.
Correct: I didn't do it.
Use base form (do) with "didn't", not past tense (did).
Wrong: She do not like it.
Correct: She does not like it.
Use "does" for negation with third-person singular.

Conjugation Tables for "Do"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not do · He does not do
Simple past: I did not do · She did not do
Present perfect: I have not done · He has not done

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you do? · Does he do?
Simple past: Did you do?
Present perfect: Have you done?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is done
Simple past passive: It was done
Present perfect passive: It has been done

Frequently Asked Questions About "Do"

Is "do" regular or irregular?: "do" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "did" and past participle is "done". You must memorize these forms.
What is the past tense of "do"?: The simple past of "do" is "did".
What's the difference between the past simple and past participle of "do"?: The past simple is "did" and the past participle is "done". Use past simple for completed past actions ("I did yesterday"). Use past participle with have/has ("I have done").
What's a common mistake with "do"?: Add "s" to "do" with third-person singular (he/she/it). Wrong: "He do his homework." Correct: "He does his homework."

Conjugation of "Do" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage