Do - does - doesn't - don't (phonetic)

The pronunciation of the irregular verb 'to do' is an infuriating quirk of the language for foreign learners. The vowel sound changes in a unique way.

• The base form 'to do', the first person singular 'I do' and second person singular 'you do' and the plural forms of the present tense 'we/you/they do', and the -ing participle 'doing' all have the long 'u' sound of 'you' and 'who', IPA /uː/.
• The third person singular of the present tense 'does', with its negative 'doesn't', and the -ed participle 'done' have the short 'u' vowel of 'up' and 'but', /ÊŒ/.
• The colloquial negative of 'do' (the first person singular 'I do' and second person singular 'you do' and the plural forms of the present tense 'we/you/they do', 'don't', has the diphthongal vowel /əʊ/.
• The past tense 'did' has the short 'i' vowel /ɪ/.