Unraveling the Mystery: The Verbs that Always Do (Not Does!)
Ever encountered a crossword clue that throws you for a loop? You’re staring at a blank square, trying to decipher the cryptic message, and you find yourself questioning the very nature of grammar. That’s precisely the feeling you get when you come across a clue asking for verbs that always “do,” never “does.”
This perplexing puzzle piece is a common theme in crossword puzzles, designed to test your knowledge of verb conjugations and subject-verb agreement. But fear not, dear crossword solvers! We’re here to untangle this grammatical knot and equip you with the tools to confidently tackle these clues.
Why the “Do” vs. “Does” Dilemma?
The core of this puzzle lies in the fundamental rules of subject-verb agreement. In simple terms, the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. Singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs.
“He
does
his homework” is grammatically correct because “he” is singular and “does” is the singular form of the verb “to do.” On the other hand, “They
do
their homework” is correct because “they” is plural and “do” is the plural form of the verb.
The crossword clue, however, is playing a clever trick on us. It’s not just asking for verbs that are conjugated correctly; it’s asking for verbs that
always
take the plural form, “do,” even when the subject is singular.
The Key to the Puzzle: Uncovering the “Do-ers”
To solve this type of crossword clue, we need to delve into the realm of verbs that defy the typical singular-plural agreement. These are the verbs that remain stubbornly plural, regardless of the subject’s number.
Think about it: What verbs always require the plural form, even when used with a singular subject? These are the words that hold the key to unlocking this crossword conundrum.
Available Answers:
AGREE.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: NY Times Crossword 1 Aug 24, Thursday