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Put footnote in brackets so the asterisk doesn't get turned into a bullet
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Colin Fine
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No, it isn't, in any variety of English that I am aware of.

"Do/does/did" may be used in an affirmative sentence before any other verb*, for emphasis (in a negative or interrogative sentence it's obligatory before most verbs) as long as there isn't another auxiliary.

In "I didn't do tell him anything" there are two auxiliaries ('didn't' and 'do') so it is not grammatical.

In "he really did love her" there is no other auxiliary besides "did", so it is grammatical.

  • except "be".

(* except "be")

No, it isn't, in any variety of English that I am aware of.

"Do/does/did" may be used in an affirmative sentence before any other verb*, for emphasis (in a negative or interrogative sentence it's obligatory before most verbs) as long as there isn't another auxiliary.

In "I didn't do tell him anything" there are two auxiliaries ('didn't' and 'do') so it is not grammatical.

In "he really did love her" there is no other auxiliary besides "did", so it is grammatical.

  • except "be".

No, it isn't, in any variety of English that I am aware of.

"Do/does/did" may be used in an affirmative sentence before any other verb*, for emphasis (in a negative or interrogative sentence it's obligatory before most verbs) as long as there isn't another auxiliary.

In "I didn't do tell him anything" there are two auxiliaries ('didn't' and 'do') so it is not grammatical.

In "he really did love her" there is no other auxiliary besides "did", so it is grammatical.

(* except "be")

Post Migrated Here from english.stackexchange.com (revisions)
Source Link
Colin Fine
  • 77.1k
  • 4
  • 100
  • 162

No, it isn't, in any variety of English that I am aware of.

"Do/does/did" may be used in an affirmative sentence before any other verb*, for emphasis (in a negative or interrogative sentence it's obligatory before most verbs) as long as there isn't another auxiliary.

In "I didn't do tell him anything" there are two auxiliaries ('didn't' and 'do') so it is not grammatical.

In "he really did love her" there is no other auxiliary besides "did", so it is grammatical.

  • except "be".