Page 84 - Basic English Usage

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10 well
To make agreement or disagreement ‘softer’, less strong.
‘Do you like it?’ ‘Well, yes, it’s all right.’
‘Can | borrow your car?’ ‘Well, no, I'm afraid you can't.’

11 I suppose
To make a polite enquiry.
| suppose you're not free this evening?
To show unwilling agreement.
‘Can you help me?’ I suppose so.’

12 I’m afraid
To say that one is sorry to give bad news.
‘Do you speak German?’ ‘I’m afraid | don't.’
Most of these expressions have more than one meaning.
For full details, see a good dictionary. For after all, see 17. For actually, see 7.

98 do: auxiliary verb
The auxiliary verb do is used in a lot of ways.

We use do to make questions with ordinary verbs, but not with auxiliary
verbs. (See 270.) Compare:
Do you like football? (NOT tike-yet-footbat!?)
Can you play football? (NOT De-yett-ean feotbat?)
play
We use do to make negative sentences with ordinary verbs, but not with
auxiliary verbs. (See 214.) Compare:
! don’t like football. (NOT Hike-netfectbat,)
! can’t play football. (NOT +der’tearr
feetbatt)
play
We use do instead of repeating a complete verb or clause. (See 108.3.)
She doesn't like dancing, but! do.(= ... but | like dancing.)
Ann thinks there's something wrong with Bill, and so do |.
You play bridge, don’t you?

We use doin an affirmative clause for emphasis. (See 110.1.)
Do sit down. — She thinks | don't iove her, but | do love her.

We can use the auxiliary verb do together with the ordinary verb do —
so that we have do twice in the same verb phrase.
What do you do in the evenings?
‘My name is Robinson.’ ‘How do you do?’