Analyzing and Interpreting Literature / Unit 2 AIL 0120 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Empty Auxiliary Do
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The idea
Older English inserts do and did where modern English would not. Sonnet 44's "my foot did stand" means my foot stood. The auxiliary fills a syllable and carries no emphasis, so reading stress into it misreads the line.
In practice
Did stand means stood.
Where people slip
Do not read emphasis into did.
Your place on the trail
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