I Somebody/Something Miles Duː Evening Mentioned Work Make

• what are you doing this evening?
• we will do what we can to help.
• are you doing anything tomorrow evening?
• the company ought to do something about the poor service.

do

1. used to refer to actions that you do not mention by name or do not know about
• What are you doing this evening?
• We will do what we can to help.
• Are you doing anything tomorrow evening?
• The company ought to do something about the poor service.
• What have you done to your hair?
• There's nothing to do (= no means of passing the time in an enjoyable way) in this place.
• There's nothing we can do about it (= we can't change the situation).
• What can I do for you (= how can I help)?
2. to act or behave in the way mentioned
• Do as you're told!
• They are free to do as they please.
• You would do well to (= I advise you to) consider all the options before buying.
3. used to ask or talk about the success or progress of somebody/something
• How is the business doing?
• She did well out of (= made a big profit from) the deal.
• He's doing very well at school (= his work is good).
• Both mother and baby are doing well (= after the birth of the baby).
• How are you doing (= how are you)?
4. to work at or perform an activity or a task
• I'm doing some research on the subject.
• I have a number of things to do today.
• I do aerobics once a week.
• Let's do (= meet for) lunch.
• Sorry. I don't do funny (= I can't be funny).
5. used with nouns to talk about tasks such as cleaning, washing, arranging, etc.
• to do (= wash) the dishes
• to do (= arrange) the flowers
• I like the way you've done your hair.
6. to perform the activity or task mentioned
• I like listening to the radio when I'm doing the ironing.
• She did a lot of acting when she was at college.
• Let me do the dishes.
• Michael said he would do the kitchen floor.
• It’s your turn to do the table.
• to do the shopping/cleaning/ironing/vacuuming
• He makes a great lasagne.
• I’ll make breakfast while you’re having a shower.
• Can you get dinner while I put the kids to bed?
• Sit down—I’ll fix supper for you.
7. to work at something as a job
• What do you do (= what is your job)?
• What does she want to do when she leaves school?
• What did she do for a living?
• What's Tom doing these days?
8. to learn or study something
• I'm doing physics, biology and chemistry.
• Have you done any (= studied anything by) Keats?
9. to find the answer to something; to solve something
• I can't do this sum.
• Are you good at doing crosswords?
10. to produce or make something
• to do a drawing/painting/sketch
• Does this pub do (= provide) lunches?
• Who's doing (= organizing and preparing) the food for the wedding reception?
• I'll do a copy for you.
• I'll do you a copy.
• She makes her own clothes.
• She made a good impression on the interviewer.
• He did a beautiful drawing of a house.
• Who’s doing the food for the party?
• Scientists disagree about how the universe was created.
• Try this new dish, created by our head chef.
• to develop new software
• a factory that produces microchips
• to generate electricity
• Brainstorming is a good way of generating ideas.
• Rearrange the letters to form a new word.
• The chain is formed from 136 links.
11. to perform or produce a play, an opera, etc.
• The local dramatic society is doing ‘Hamlet’ next month.
12. to copy somebody’s behaviour or the way somebody speaks, sings, etc., especially in order to make people laugh
• He does a great Elvis Presley.
• Can you do a Welsh accent?
13. to finish something
• Sit there and wait till I've done.
• I've done talking—let's get started.
• Did you get your article done in time?
14. to travel a particular distance
• How many miles did you do during your tour?
• My car does 40 miles to the gallon (= uses one gallon of petrol/gas to travel 40 miles).
15. to complete a journey/trip
• We did the round trip in two hours.
16. to travel at or reach a particular speed
• The car was doing 90 miles an hour.
17. to visit a place as a tourist
• We did Tokyo in three days.
18. to spend a period of time doing something
• She did a year at college, but then dropped out.
• He did six years (= in prison) for armed robbery.
19. to deal with or attend to somebody/something
• The hairdresser said she could do me (= cut my hair) at three.
20. to be suitable or be enough for somebody/something
• ‘Can you lend me some money?’ ‘Sure—will $20 do?’
• These shoes won't do for the party.
• The box will do fine as a table.
• This room will do me nicely, thank you (= it has everything I need).
21. to cook something
• How would you like your steak done?
22. to cheat somebody
• This isn't a genuine antique—you've been done.
23. to punish somebody
• They did him for tax evasion.
• She got done for speeding.
24. to steal from a place
• The gang did a warehouse and a supermarket.
25. to take an illegal drug
• He doesn't smoke, drink or do drugs.
26. to have sex
27. to be about or connected with somebody/something
• ‘What do you want to see me about?’ ‘It's to do with that letter you sent me.’
28. used to talk about how much somebody/something is connected with somebody/something
• Her job has something to do with computers.
• ‘How much do you earn?’ ‘What's it got to do with you?’
• Hard work has a lot to do with (= is an important reason for) her success.
• We don't have very much to do with our neighbours (= we do not speak to them very often).
• I'd have nothing to do with him, if I were you.
29. used to say that a situation is not acceptable and should be changed or improved
• This is the third time you've been late this week; it simply won't do.
30. used to say that something does not make somebody look attractive
• That hairstyle doesn't do anything for her.
31. used to refuse a request
• ‘Can you lend me ten dollars?’ ‘Nothing doing!’
32. used to show that you intend to stop somebody from doing something that they were going to do
• Sharon went to get into the taxi. ‘Oh no you don't,’ said Steve.
33. used to show that you will not accept something any longer
• That does it, I'm off. I'm not having you swear at me like that.
34. used to say that an accident, a mistake, etc. has spoiled or ruined something
• That's done it. You've completely broken it this time.
35. used to order somebody to stop doing or saying something
• That'll do, children—you're getting far too noisy.
36. used to ask how somebody manages to obtain the thing mentioned
• What do you do for entertainment out here?
37. used to ask why somebody/something is in the place mentioned
• What are these shoes doing on my desk?

Extra Examples

• Both mother and baby are doing well.
• Do as you’re told!
• Do whatever you like.
• Does this pub do lunches?
• Have you done any Keats?
• He did a beautiful drawing of a house.
• He doesn’t smoke, drink or do drugs.
• He’s doing very well at school.
• How many miles did you do yesterday?
• I can’t do this sum.
• I like listening to the radio when I’m doing the ironing.
• I like the way you’ve done your hair.
• I’ll do a copy for you.
• I’m doing physics, chemistry and biology.
• I’m doing some research on the subject.
• Just do what they tell you to do.
• Let’s do lunch.
• My car does 40 miles to the gallon.
• She did well out of the deal.
• Sorry. I don’t do funny
• There’s nothing to do in this place.
• There’s nothing we can do about it.
• We did the round trip in under three hours.
• What can I do for you?
• What did she do for a living?
• Who’s doing the flowers for the wedding?
• You could help me by doing the dishes.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they do
• he / she / it does
• past simple did
• past participle done
• -ing form doing

Word Origin

• Old English dōn, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch doen and German tun, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek tithēmi ‘I place’ and Latin facere ‘make, do’.