Is it correct to use Do just before the verb? In which context we have to use this?

Question

I have observed many sentences like

Do watch my all episodes

where do is used just before a verb. Is it correct to use do that way? In what types of sentences we can use this?

This type of "do" is used for emphasis. It intensifies the ordinary verb. Where "Watch all my episodes" might not seem to be enough, "Do watch all my episodes" makes a special plea concerning the exact same thing. It's more often heard in BrE than AmE, by the way. Which only means that in in AmE it is even more emphatic. — Robusto, Sep 09 '15 at 11:20
@Robusto, can we use Do after Please? As : Please do watch all my episodes ? It would be better if you answer this question along with some examples. — Nitinkumar Ambekar, Sep 09 '15 at 11:29
@Robusto: Curiously though, if I had agreed with OP's request for you to supply a formal Answer, I could reasonably have posted the comment Please do. But just Do on its own would be "unidiomatic", to say the least. — FumbleFingers, Sep 09 '15 at 12:31
@FumbleFingers: I don't know, I can imagine cases where it might be used naked like that. Q: "Shall I try to avoid bothering you in the future with such small matters?" A: "Do." — Robusto, Sep 09 '15 at 12:35
@Robusto, @FumbleFingers, should we take verb after Do as a noun or verb or what? For example, in a sentence like: Do answer this question, I don't think answer plays a role of main verb. — Nitinkumar Ambekar, Sep 09 '15 at 13:07
@Robusto: True, we can contrive plausible contexts for almost any sequence of words. But in the vast majority of contexts where Yes, please do conveys assent to a suggested action, it would be perfectly ordinary to "reduce" it to any pair of those words, or to any single word except plain Do (where you'd be inclined to append it or so, for example, because that one word on its own it just doesn't quite stand up). — FumbleFingers, Sep 09 '15 at 13:07
@Fumble: Any reply that consists of "Yes, please do" could be reduced to "Yes" or "Please" or "Do," in my estimation. — Robusto, Sep 09 '15 at 13:10
related: 1. When do you use “Did + 1st form” instead of “2nd form” 2. I know or I do know 3. “did shoot” vs “shot” — Mari-Lou A, Sep 10 '15 at 21:57
Also related: What is the difference in meaning between "I play" and "I do play"? — Mari-Lou A, Sep 10 '15 at 22:14

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 09 '15 at 14:17

1

It is correct to use "Do" in this fashion as an imperative. On its own, though, it tends to feel stiff. Where you will tend to encounter this is in a list of imperatives and it will be written this way to remain somewhat consistent.

Do not watch Show X.

Do not watch Show Y.

Do not watch Movie A.

Do not watch Movie B.

Do watch Documentary E.

Do watch Documentary F.

answered Sep 09 '15 at 14:17

Paul Rowe

4,220

Why did you write show, movie and documentary with a capital letter? I don't see any difference between the first two examples except Y is a different letter from X. – Mari-Lou A Sep 10 '15 at 21:50
The Monopoly game has the perfect example: Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. – Mari-Lou A Sep 10 '15 at 22:11
@PaulRowe, actually I want to know where not to use Do before a main verb. @Robusto has already given nice comment on what does Do mean in such sentences. – Nitinkumar Ambekar Sep 11 '15 at 09:57

Is it correct to use Do just before the verb? In which context we have to use this?

1 Answers1