2. Focus on: phrasal verbs and do, does,anddid

Like ordinary verbs, phrasal verbs form negatives and questions with do, does, and did.

Present tense questions

In the present tense, questions are formed with do (except when the subject is he, she, it, or the name of one person or thing):

Why do. I always fall for losers?

Do you sometimes doze off in class?

Do we ever give in to pressure?

How do these bottle tops come off?

When the subject is he, she, it, or the name of one person or thing, does is used. Remember that the -s form of the verb is not used in questions:

Does this welding torch throw sparks up into the air?

Present tense negatives

In the present tense, negatives are formed with do not or don't (except when the subject is he, she, it, or the name of one person or thing):

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/ used to doze off while driving, but I don't anymore.

I think he has the flu because you don't usually throw up when you

have a cold.

We don't usually fall for crazy stories like that.

If his dogs do not stay off our lawn, I'm going to call the dogcatcher.

When the subject is he, she, it, or the name of one person or thing, does not or doesn't is used. Remember that the -s form of the verb is not used in negatives:

If Mark doesn't pull through, five children will be without a father.

Past tense questions

In the past tense, questions are formed with did. Remember to use the infinitive form of the verb:

I'm so embarrassed. Why did I fall for his lies?

Did the patient pull through?

How many times did he throw up?

Did we give in to their demands?

Did they hear about the explorer who was eaten by piranhas?

Past tense negatives

In the past tense, negatives are formed with did not or didn't. Remember to use the infinitive form of the verb:

/ was really sick, but I didn't. throw up.

You didn't fall for that nonsense, I hope.

He pulled and pulled, but the bowling ball did not come off.

We didn't hear about the half-price sale until it was too late.

I'm sorry. We tried everything, but she didn't pull through.

1. come off p.v. When something comes off, it becomes detached from what it was attached or fastened to.

Be careful with this old book. The cover's coming off.

That paint won't come off your hands unless you use turpentine.

2. come off p.v. When an event comes off, it is successful.

The party came off well. Everyone had a lot of fun.

The attack didn't come off the way the general planned it.

3. come off p.v. When you say "Come off it" to people, you are saying that you think something they have said is untrue or foolish.

It's 2:00 a.m., you come home smelling like beer, and you say you were working late at the office? Oh, come off it!

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1. doze off p.v. When you fall into a light sleep, you doze off.

I went to a movie last night, but it was so boring I dozed off.

If I have a drink at lunch, I'm sure to doze off at my desk.