Do for Emphasis

Read and listen to four conversations using Do for Emphasis.

Script
Grammar
Quiz
Puzzle

Conversation 1

Man: Do you like sports?
Woman: No, but I do like golf.
Man: Golf?
Woman: You don’t like golf?
Man: I did like it when I was younger, but not now.
Woman: Oh, I love it. Why don't you like it anymore?
Man: It's just too expensive.
Woman: True. It does cost a lot to play.

Conversation 2

Man: Do you cook much?
Woman: I do cook a lot.
Man: What do you cook?
Woman: Just easy stuff like pasta dishes. And you?
Man: I don’t cook much. I do cook breakfast, though.
Woman: Really, I never cook breakfast.
Man: Oh, breakfast is the best meal of the day. Why don't you like breakfast?
Woman: I do like breakfast, I just don't have time to cook it. My husband does make me pancakes sometimes, though.

Conversation 3

Man: Do you watch much TV?
Woman: I do watch a lot of TV.
Man: What do you watch?
Woman: I watch dramas. And you?
Man: I rarely watch TV. I do watch the news sometimes though.
Woman: How depressing! The news always makes me feel sad.
Man: Yeah, it does get depressing sometimes.

Conversation 4

Man: Do you have any kids?
Woman: I don’t. And you?
Man: I do have kids but they are all grown now.
Woman: Do they live near you?
Man: They did live near me, but they moved.
Woman: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.
Man: Yeah, me too. They do still visit a lot though.
Woman: Did you see them over the holidays?
Man: I did see them. We had a really nice time together.

Do / Does / Did for Emphasis

When we want to emphasis a statement we can use do, does, and did with stress to add meaning.

For negative sentences, extra stress is added to don't, doesn't and didn't to add emphasis.

Point 1: In present simple sentences, you can use 'do' to show emphasis.

Do you have a car?
1. Yes, I have a car. (normal)
2. Yes, I do have a car. (emphasized)
Do they serve bagels?
1. Yes, they serve bagels. (normal)
2. Yes, they do serve bagels. emphasized)

Point 2: If the subject is third person singular, then you use 'does' to show emphasis.

Does he work here?
1. Yes, he words here.
2. Yes, he does work here.
Does it cost a lot to live there?
1. Yes, it costs a lot.
2. Yes, it does cost a lot.

Point 3: If the action happens in the simple past tense, use 'did' to show emphasis.

Did he come to work today?
1. Yes, he came to work.
2. Yes, he did come to work.
Did they find an apartment?
1. Yes, they found an apartment.
2. They did find an apartment.