In English grammar, when the auxiliary "did" is used in a sentence, which form of the main verb (V1, V2, V3, etc.) should follow it?

Introduction / Context:
This grammar question tests your knowledge of auxiliary verbs and verb forms. The auxiliary "did" is used in simple past tense questions, negatives, and emphatic statements in English. Knowing which main verb form should follow "did" is essential for forming correct sentences and for spotting errors in competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The auxiliary verb is "did", which is the past form of "do".
- We must select the correct form of the main verb that follows "did".
- The choices are V1 (base form), V2 (simple past), V3 (past participle), V+ing (present participle), and infinitive with "to".

Concept / Approach:
In English, when "did" is used as an auxiliary, it already carries the past tense. Therefore, the main verb that comes after "did" must remain in its base form (V1). For example, we say "Did you go", not "Did you went". The same rule applies to negatives like "did not go" and emphatic statements like "I did go". The base form is the dictionary form of the verb without "to".

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall standard patterns: "Did + subject + V1" for questions and "Subject + did not + V1" for negatives in simple past tense.
Step 2: Check some examples: "Did he finish the work", "She did not attend the meeting", "I did see him yesterday". In each case, the verb after "did" is the base form.
Step 3: Understand that using V2 after "did" would repeat the past marking and create incorrect forms like "Did you went".
Step 4: Conclude that the correct option is V1 (base form of the verb).

Verification / Alternative check:
Test each option in a sentence. With V1: "Did you eat", "Did they work", "Did she sing". All are correct. With V2: "Did you ate", "Did they worked" are clearly wrong. With V3: "Did you eaten" is also wrong. With V+ing: "Did you eating" is ungrammatical. With infinitive: "Did you to eat" is not acceptable. This systematic check confirms that only V1 works correctly after "did".

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- V2 (simple past): duplicates the past tense already expressed by "did" and creates errors like "Did he went".

- V3 (past participle): used with "have" or "had" for perfect tenses, not directly after "did".
- V+ing: used with "be" in continuous tenses, not with "did".
- Infinitive with "to": used after some verbs and adjectives, not immediately after "did" in simple past questions or negatives.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners mistakenly say or write "Did you went" or "Did she came" because they are thinking in simple past forms. A good rule to remember is: whenever you use "do", "does", or "did" as auxiliaries, the main verb always stays in the base form. This applies to both present and past tense questions and negatives.

Final Answer:
The verb form used with "did" is V1, the base form of the verb.