In the sentence "I do like mint ice cream" 'do' is an auxilliary verb. However, if you were responding with a "I do" in a wedding vows context, is 'do' auxilliary? It would be if you continued the line and said "I do promise", but what about when you don't?
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1Yes. Do is an auxiliary verb in both situations. The do in I do like mint ice cream is emphatic and therfore stressed. The do in the wedding ceremony is simply a short answer to a question that also uses Do-Support, and it just repeats the auxiliary. – John Lawler May 21 '17 at 17:43
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@JohnLawler - how about you make that an answer? – aparente001 May 22 '17 at 03:58
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Related: https://english.stackexchange.com/a/362824/77227 – herisson Jun 19 '17 at 02:27
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When saying 'I do promise', for example, the main verb is -to promise, making the verb -to do an auxiliary, but if just saying 'I do', the only verb used is -to do, being the main verb in the sentence, not having what to assist.
Usually, when 'do' is applied before a verb - as an auxiliary - the strength is highlighted. In the same case, it is possible to use 'I promise', as well as using 'I do promise', what gives the state more confidence.
Beatriz
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No, I do is short for I do take so-and-so as my husband... or wherever the question was. See Lawler's comment – Arm the good guys in America May 26 '17 at 05:54