Do and Does: Present Simple Questions and Negatives

📘 Part of the Complete English Course · Beginner (A1), week 3

To make present simple questions and negatives, we use the helper verbs 'do' and 'does'. When you use 'does' or 'doesn't', the main verb has no -s.

The rules

Negatives

Subject	Helper	Verb	Example
I / you / we / they	don't	work	I don't work on Sundays.
he / she / it	doesn't	work	She doesn't eat meat.

Questions

Helper	Subject	Verb	Short answer
Do	you	like coffee?	Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
Does	he	drive?	Yes, he does. / No, he doesn't.

Wh- questions

Question word	Example
Where	Where do you live?
What time	What time does the shop close?
How	How do you get to work?

Remember

don't = do not, doesn't = does not.
After does / doesn't, use the base verb: Does she work? (not 'works')
Question words go first: Where do you work?
With 'be', don't use do: Are you tired? (not 'Do you be tired?')

Listen and repeat

Do you speak Spanish?
Where does your brother live?
I don't understand. Can you say it again?
The bus doesn't stop here.

Common mistakes

Not this	Say this	Why
~~She don't like fish.~~	She doesn't like fish.	she + doesn't.
~~Does he works here?~~	Does he work here?	No -s after does.
~~Where you live?~~	Where do you live?	You need 'do' in the question.

Check yourself

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Frequently asked questions

When do we use do / does in English?

To make present simple questions and negatives, we use the helper verbs 'do' and 'does'. When you use 'does' or 'doesn't', the main verb has no -s. don't = do not, doesn't = does not.

What are common mistakes with do / does?

Say 'She doesn't like fish.', not 'She don't like fish.' (she + doesn't). Say 'Does he work here?', not 'Does he works here?' (No -s after does). Say 'Where do you live?', not 'Where you live?' (You need 'do' in the question).

What level is this do / does lesson?

It's a Beginner (A1) lesson, week 3 of the free Complete English Course. It takes about 10 minutes and ends with a quiz.