"Do" with "nothing"

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

Can I use "nothing" in a question with "do"?

"Do I do nothing?" Or "Does she do nothing?"

 

[emsr2d2]

No doubt someone will come up with another verb, but the only verb I can think of that can't be used with the auxiliary "Do/Does" is "be".

Do I eat?
Do I have spinach in my teeth?
Does she want a drink?
Do they shower?
Does he ever brush his hair?
Does she do her homework quickly?
Do I do things that annoy you?

But not "Do I be annoying?"

 

[Rachel Adams]

You can.

Does it sound informal?

In a negative statement it would be wrong. "I don't do nothing." Right?

 

[emsr2d2]

Does it sound informal?

In a negative statement it would be wrong. "I don't do nothing." Right?

That sentence is actually possible.

Mum: I'm fed up with you just lounging around the house.
Sam: What are you talking about?
Mum: Look at you. You've been on the sofa for four hours. You just do nothing all day!
Sam: I don't do nothing. I'm actually being very productive. It's just that it's all online.
Mum: Whatever! ;-)

It's wrong when it's used instead of "I don't do anything". You will hear even native speakers say "I didn't do nothing" when they mean "I didn't do anything". It's common but it's wrong.

 

[GoesStation]

"Do I do nothing?" Or "Does she do nothing?"

Does it sound informal?

No, but the sentences above are weird. It's hard to think of a context where they'd be natural.

 

[GoesStation]

Mum: Look at you. You've been on the sofa for four hours. You just do nothing all day!
Sam: I don't do "nothing". I'm actually being very productive. It's just that it's all online.

I'd punctuate it as above.

 

[emsr2d2]

I wouldn't.