Common mistakes
Do or does: make present-simple questions and negatives
Sign in to saveDo you pause before asking a question? You want to choose do or does fast.
Use do or does to make present-simple questions and negative sentences. Check the subject, then use the plain main verb.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
do or does DOO-or-DUZ
The short answer
Use do with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns. Use does with he, she, it, and other singular nouns; keep the main verb plain.
Do you like tea?
Why it works: Use do with you in a question.
3 more examples
-
Asking about friends
Do they live in Sydney?
Plural subjects take do.
Not this:
Does theylive in Sydney? What changes: The listener hears the wrong helper word for they. -
Ordering drinks
She doesn't drink coffee.
After doesn't, use the plain main verb.
Not this:She
doesn't drinkscoffee. What changes: The extra s makes the sentence ungrammatical. -
Checking a work schedule
Does he work on Saturdays?
Use does with he in a present-simple question.
Not this:
Do hework on Saturdays? What changes: He takes does in standard present-simple questions.
Quick check
Which question is correct for a friend?
Answer: Do you drive to work every day?
Show the answer
Answer: Do you drive to work every day?
Use do with you, and keep the main verb drive plain.
Read the full guide
You want to ask about card payments at a coffee shop. Choose do or does from the subject.
Pick do or does by subject
The problem: I know the rule but I still choose the wrong form when I speak.
At a music shop, you ask about two friends. Choose do or does from the subject. The table gives the full map for questions and negatives.
-
Not this:
Does your friends like music?Say: Do your friends like music?
Friends is plural. Use do with plural subjects.
| Helper | Negative | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| do | don't (do not) | I, you, we, they, and plural nouns |
| does | doesn't (does not) | he, she, it, and other singular nouns |
Your turn
Choose the helper word for this question.
Asking a new neighbor about their parents.
___ your parents work nearby?
Answer: Do
Show the answer
Answer: Do
Parents is plural, so use do. Work stays plain after do.
Leave the main verb plain
The problem: I changed one word and my friend laughed because I kept the -s on the verb.
At a travel desk, you ask where one woman lives. In a yes-or-no question, does comes before the subject. In Where does she live?, where comes first and does still comes before she. The main verb stays plain.
-
Not this:
Does she lives in Madrid?Say: Does she live in Madrid?
Does carries the s. Live stays in its base form.
Your turn
Choose the correct question about a neighbor.
Asking about a neighbor's evening routine.
Answer: Does she cook at home?
Show the answer
Answer: Does she cook at home?
Use does with she. Cook stays plain after does.
Know when to use be instead
The problem: I tried to use do with the verb be and got confused.
Look at the main verb. With be, move am, is, or are before the subject. With another present-simple verb, use do or does and the plain verb. Like, know, need, and want use do or does.
Put be before the subject.
Are you tired after the trip?
Use do or does, then the plain verb.
Do you like tea?
-
Not this:
Do you tired after the trip?Say: Are you tired after the trip?
Tired is a description after be, so ask with are.
Your turn
Choose the natural question for a friend.
Meeting a friend before dinner.
Answer: Are you ready for dinner?
Show the answer
Answer: Are you ready for dinner?
Ready uses be, so use are. Use do with another main verb, such as like.
Answer with short natural pairs
The problem: I know the meaning but I never know when to use it in quick replies.
At a bus stop, a coworker asks about your route. When you answer, repeat the helper word. Do not repeat the main verb. You can answer without it.
- Alex
Do you take this bus every morning?
- Elena
Yes, I do. It drops me right by my office.
- Alex
Does it stop near the central library?
- Elena
No, it doesn't. You need bus twelve for that.
Your turn
Choose the short answer that uses the helper from the question.
Asking whether a bus stops near a library.
Does this bus stop near the central library?
Answer: Yes, it does.
Show the answer
Answer: Yes, it does.
Use does in the short answer. Yes, it stops is grammatical, but it does not use the helper answer pattern.
Before you go
Question 1 of 3
Choose the correct sentence to ask about a colleague's routine.
Answer: Does Mark cycle to the office?
Show the answer
Answer: Does Mark cycle to the office?
Mark is one person, so use does with the base verb cycle.
Question 2 of 3
Fill in the gap to make a natural negative sentence.
Answer: We don't eat lunch at our desks.
Show the answer
Answer: don't
We use don't for negative sentences.
Question 3 of 3 · One new sentence
You want to ask a stall owner if they sell fresh orange juice. What do you say?
At a weekend farmers market
Answer: Do you sell fresh orange juice here?
Show the answer
Answer: Do you sell fresh orange juice here?
Ask a shopkeeper with do you and the base verb sell.
Remember this
Use do or does with the plain main verb. Say the audio lines aloud and listen for the helper word.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Do or does: make present-simple questions and negatives"
When do I use do and when do I use does?
Use do with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns. Use does with he, she, it, and other singular nouns. I and you take do even when one person is meant.
Do I need a ticket?
Does the train leave at six?
Why does the main verb stay plain after does?
Does already has the ending for he, she, and it. Keep the main verb plain after does or doesn't.
Does your brother cook on Fridays?
She doesn't need a taxi today.
How do I make a negative with do or does?
Use don't, meaning do not, with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns. Use doesn't, meaning does not, with he, she, it, and other singular nouns. Put the plain main verb after it.
We don't keep shoes in this cupboard.
The shop doesn't open on Mondays.
How do I choose between be and another main verb?
With be, move am, is, or are before the subject. With another present-simple main verb, use do or does and the plain verb. Like, know, need, and want use do or does.
Are you ready for class?
Do you like this cafe?
What is a natural short answer to a do or does question?
Repeat do or does in a short answer. Do not repeat the main verb.
Does the film start at seven?
No, it doesn't.