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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Is the auxiliary verb DO really necessary?
After watching several tv series (true blood, agents of shield, once upon a time etc) I've realized that it's VERY common to see Americans, at least, making questions without actually using the auxiliary verb DO in the Simple Present, for example. And that's made me very confused. Firstly because that's a rule that every Brazilian student struggles with (in our language, the only differences between an affirmative and a interrogative question are the intonation and the question mark). Secondly, it made me wonder how strange that mistake actually sounds to a native speaker!
My original language is Portuguese and when a foreigner has problems with conjugations it sounds REALLY bad (even though I'd keep it to myself). To a point that if a native had made the same mistake I'd promptly correct him/her, and even make some fun out of it. I thought it would be the same with the auxiliary in a question, but apparently I was wrong.
*Hence, have I spent MANY hours training it for nothing?*
ex.:
_*Do* you like blue? [how I've been taught]_
_you like blue? [how I've seen on tv series]_
My original language is Portuguese and when a foreigner has problems with conjugations it sounds REALLY bad (even though I'd keep it to myself). To a point that if a native had made the same mistake I'd promptly correct him/her, and even make some fun out of it. I thought it would be the same with the auxiliary in a question, but apparently I was wrong.
*Hence, have I spent MANY hours training it for nothing?*
ex.:
_*Do* you like blue? [how I've been taught]_
_you like blue? [how I've seen on tv series]_
Top answer
The two sentences are actually used in slightly different situations. For example: A: I can't find a dress in this color in my size. B: Do you like blue?
- The two sentences are actually used in slightly different situations.
- For example: A: I can't find a dress in this color in my size.
- B: Do you like blue?
- There's a dress in blue in your size.
- A: No, I don't look good in blue.
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2 Answers
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The two sentences are actually used in slightly different situations. For example:
A: I can't find a dress in this color in my size.
B: Do you like blue? There's a dress in blue in your size.
A: No, I don't look good in blue.
C: Look, I found this terrific dress in my size!
D: You like blue? I thought you didn't like that color.
C: Wel
A: I can't find a dress in this color in my size.
B: Do you like blue? There's a dress in blue in your size.
A: No, I don't look good in blue.
C: Look, I found this terrific dress in my size!
D: You like blue? I thought you didn't like that color.
C: Wel
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Anonymous_you like blue?Careless or fast speakers will skip the "do" at the start of such questions. The word it is mentally added in by the other person in the conversation. It is not correct to do this in formal or business writing.
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