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The present simple, part 5 of 6

Present Simple Questions with Do and Does

To ask a present simple question, start with do or does: Do you swim? Does she drive? The verb stays in its base form.

A1 · 12 minBefore:Don't and doesn't contractions

The idea

What a present simple question is

It asks about what usually happens: routines, likes, and facts. In English intonation is not enough: the question starts with do or does.

  1. It asks if something happens. Does the bus stop here?
  2. It asks for information. With where, what, or when first: When do you eat?
  3. You answer short, with do or does and without repeating the verb: Do you swim? No, I don't.

When to use it

To ask about routines, likes, and facts: if someone does something, where, when, or what. These expressions go with it:

To find out if

  • Do you like...?
  • Do you have...?
  • Do you know...?
  • Does it hurt?

With what, where, how

  • What do you do?
  • What does it mean?
  • How do you say...?
  • Where do you work?

To offer or ask for something

  • Do you want...?
  • Do you need help?
  • Does it come with...?

Examples

  • If someone does something

    Do you work on weekends?

  • About another person

    Does your brother drive?

  • A place

    Where do you live?

  • A time

    What time does the bank close?

  • Short answers

    Does it work? Yes, it does.

How to build it

4 steps

  1. Start with Do or DoesDoes with he, she, it, or a singular noun; Do with the rest:Does
  2. Add the subjectIt goes after the helper, not before:Does your cousin
  3. The base verb and the question markWith no -s: the -s is already in does.Does your cousin work here?
  4. With where, what, or when, it goes firstThe question word opens the sentence:Where does your cousin work?

Question

  1. (Where / What...)Where
  2. Do / Doesdo
  3. subjectyou
  4. base verbbuy
  5. complementyour bread
  6. ??

Short answer

  1. Yes / NoYes,
  2. subjectshe
  3. do / does (don't / doesn't)does.

The rule

Do or does, and how to answer

SubjectQuestionYesNo
I, you, we, theyDo they swim?Yes, they do.No, they don't.
he, she, itDoes he swim?Yes, he does.No, he doesn't.

How to pronounce it

  • do

    /du/

    At the start of a question it sounds short and light.

  • does

    /dʌz/

    It sounds like /dʌz/, not "dooz".

Check

(blank) your cat sleep a lot? Which word goes in the blank?

Don't confuse it with is and are

Is she a nurse?

With be: is

Does she work at night?

With another verb: does

With be the question starts with is or are. With other verbs, with do or does.

Questions with be

In real life

In fast speech, do you usually sounds like /djə/: do you like it? /djə laɪk ɪt/. If you hear that at the start, it is a question with do.

Frequently asked questions

Can you ask a question in English with just intonation?

In conversation, sometimes: You like it? checks something you already think. For a real question, the normal way is to start with do or does.

Why does Who lives here? have no does?

When who or what is the one doing the action, the question has no do: Who lives here? If you ask about something else, it does: Where does he live?

Can do also be the main verb in a question?

Yes: What do you do? asks about your job. The first do builds the question; the second one means do.

In short

  • Question: Do or Does + subject + verb: Do you swim?
  • Does with he, she, it, and the verb with no -s: Does she swim?
  • With where or what, that word goes first: Where do you work?
  • Short answer: Yes, I do. / No, she doesn't.
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By Bryan López ·
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