Japanese version available [here]
Theme
Emphatic use of do
Introduction
In my previous article, Cambridge CPE Speaking: The One Strategy That Helped Me Pass – Tips for CPE, CAE, FCE & Study Abroad Preparation, there was the following sentence:
What I did came down to one simple idea:
Grammatically, it is perfectly correct, yet some readers might have wondered, “Shouldn’t it be I did come down?”
The structure here is slightly tricky.
“What I did” functions as the subject, which makes came down correct.
But it’s easy to feel a momentary confusion over the relationship between did and came.
This is precisely what led to the topic of this mini column: the emphatic use of do.
Have you ever paused mid-conversation and thought:
🔹 “I did come down is correct, so why is I did came down wrong?”
🔹 “What’s the difference between I went and I did go?”
Both refer to a past action, yet their usage differs. These subtle nuances are exactly what help you understand grammar in a practical, “real-life” way.
What is the emphatic “do”?
The auxiliary do/does/did is usually used in questions (Do you…?) or negative sentences (I don’t…).
However, when used in affirmative sentences, it serves to emphasise the action:
✅ I did go to the meeting.
→ I really did go! (e.g., when someone doubts it)
After the auxiliary do, the main verb must always be in its base form. Therefore:
❌ I did went is grammatically incorrect.
The difference between “I went” and “I did go”
| Sentence | Meaning | Nuance |
| ✅ I went to the meeting. | I went to the meeting. | Factual statement. Neutral tone. |
| ✅ I did go to the meeting. | I did go! | Emphasis, contradiction, or surprise. |
In short, do acts as a “switch” to convey your feelings.
It’s less about grammar and more about the speaker’s stance.
When to use it
🔹 When someone doubts you
“You didn’t go to the meeting, did you?”
→ “I did go! I just arrived late.”
🔹 To emphasise something slightly surprising
“I did see him at the café yesterday — I’m sure it was him.”
🔹 When recalling past events with emotion
“I did try my best, even if I failed.”
Common mistakes to avoid
❌ I did went / I did came / I did saw
✅ I did go / I did come / I did see
Whenever do/does/did is present, the following verb must always be in its base form.
Think of it as the auxiliary absorbing the tense marker (-ed).
Summary: Between fact and feeling
| Expression | Focus | Nuance |
| I went | The fact | Neutral, simple narration |
| I did go | Speaker’s intention or emotion | Emphasis, contradiction, surprise |
In English, do is not just an auxiliary; it’s a subtle grammatical “magic” that adds a touch of emotion.
Grammar is not a cold set of rules, but a mechanism for conveying thought and intention with warmth.
Editor’s Note
This topic arose from a sentence in my own English writing.
Even when something is grammatically correct, the momentary feeling of confusion is exactly the chance to internalise English as your own.
Once you can use do instinctively, not by rule but by sense, your spoken and written English naturally gains a personal touch.
Read #1 in the series
👉 #1: “was” vs “is”: Understanding the Boundary Between Facts and Recollections in English
