How to explain the difference between "does" and "is"?

Question

At my college (in the US) I help international students practice English. Today one asked me to explain the the difference between "does" and "is". Obviously, I know the difference, and when to use each; the problem however is that it was difficult for me to explain to them. Does anyone know how I can explain this well to them? Thank you!

Answer 1

There are hundreds of explanations for this difference, but I most of these will not be as helpful for your student as you night like.  Much of the distinctions of language are abritrary, and any explanation we make up for why we "do" something one way and why it "is" not another way is often arbitrary.  For example, Spanish has two words for "is" and a word that means the same thing as our words "make" and "do". They have the very same ideas, but they arrange them in different combination.

The best thing you can do for your student is let go of a lot of these very complicated and arbitrary explanations (which often raise more questions than they answer), and encourage them to memorize patterns that fit the different verbs. There are lexical dictionaries, such as Longman's Dictionary of Contemporary English that provide great information about how to use words, when to use them with other words they go with, etc.

There are also excellent textbooks that break these issues down into language patterns that your student can easily learn and absorb.

Answer 2

Is== a state of being

does== an actual action is being performed.(the root word is DO...this is the action.

When the word does is being used there is an actual movement taking place.

She does her chores.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

This is tough, since there are so many ways to use these words, and even use them together.

e.g. "Joe does his homework."  "Joe is doing his homework."  "Joe is good at doing his homework."

I would just explain that most of the time, "Is" is used with adjectives to describe someone or something.

  e.g. "Joe is funny."  "Joe is handsome."  "His jacket is red."

"Does" is usually used to talk about actions or other verbs.

  e.g. "Joe does the dishes."  in this case, the object of the sentence is "the dishes." - that's what Joe is "doing."

   "Joe does not like doing the dishes."  Using "does/ does not" with a verb (like) to state something being affirmative/negative.  That's really only used with verbs - you can't say "Joe does funny," for example.  You need another verb.

Answer 4

So, does is an action verb

Is is existential and talks to a state of being.

omnapadmahaminahama!

Answer 5

"is" is affirmative  while "does" is pocessive