Expressing non-engagement in behaviours or principles using don't do

Expressing non-engagement in behaviours or principles using don't do

Created:07 Oct 2024 16:04:20 , in  intermediate

In English, if you want to say, especially in an informal way, that something is not part of your behaviour or principles, you could use a sentence based on don't do + verb / noun pattern. In the pattern the phrase "don't do" means "not engage in" or "not participate in". The verb / noun part refers to an action or a concept.

Pattern

A more complete version of the pattern looks as follows:

Subject + don't do + verb / noun

Examples

I don't do drama. ( I don't engage in dramatic behaviour. )

They don't do excuses. ( They don't accept or give excuses. )

She doesn't do mornings at the weekend. ( She avoids getting up early on weekends. )

Function of do

In subject + don't do + verb / noun pattern, "do" functions as a general-purpose verb to emphasize that the subject does not participate in or practice the activity that follows. It's a typical usage of "do" in informal speech.

This post was updated on 07 Oct 2024 16:33:24

Tags:  verb 

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excuses   rudeness   small   compromise  

#1 We don't do when it comes to quality.

#2 They don't do in their customer service.

#3 They don't do when deadlines are missed.

#4 He doesn't do talk at parties.

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