Literary notes about does (AI summary)
In the quoted passages, “does” frequently functions as the third‐person singular present tense of “do,” emphasizing either an action, a negation, or a rhetorical inquiry. Often, it appears in questions—“What does your brother say?” [1] or “Does Dickon know all about them?” [2]—to solicit information or express wonder. In other instances, negative constructions like “He does not say so” [3] and “It does not sum up all mortal merits” [4] highlight what is lacking or unfulfilled. At times, the usage is purely emphatic, as in the aside “and still does” [5], underscoring that an action continues uninterrupted. Together, these examples illustrate how authors use “does” to convey indignation (“does this mean?”, [6]), curiosity (“does your Majesty require anything further?”, [7]), or simple assertion within the narrative flow.
- What does your brother say?”
— from Howards End by E. M. Forster - Dickon’s got a whole lot of ’em planted in our bit o’ garden.” “Does Dickon know all about them?” asked Mary, a new idea taking possession of her.
— from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - He does not say so, but the walking is not good all the way from Manila to Washington.
— from The American Occupation of the Philippines 1898-1912 by James H. Blount - And it does not sum up all mortal merits to be a sportsman playing the game in a world where it is so often necessary to be a workman doing the work.
— from What's Wrong with the World by G. K. Chesterton - Twenty years ago, every maid in a lady's house wore a cap except the personal maid, who wore (and still does) a velvet bow, or nothing.
— from Etiquette by Emily Post - “What does this mean?” demanded he of the cardinal.
— from The three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - Does your Majesty require anything further?
— from The three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet
