Do / Does & Simple Present Questions
Now that you know how to make statements in the Simple Present, it is time to ask questions. This lesson covers the two auxiliary verbs do and does, how to form Yes/No questions, short answers, Wh- questions for more detail, and a key set of phrasal verbs you will use every day.
Do you work?
Does she work?
Simple Present Questions — DO and DOES
Cuándo usar DO · Cuándo usar DOES · La regla del verbo base
When Do We Use Simple Present Questions?
We use do and does to ask questions about habits, routines, and general facts — things that happen regularly, not right now.
| Situation | Example Question |
|---|---|
| Habits & daily routines | Do you wake up early every day? |
| General facts & preferences | Does she like spicy food? |
| Schedules & fixed events | What time does the bus leave? |
DO vs DOES — Which One?
The choice is simple: it depends entirely on the subject of the question.
Do they live near here?
Do we have class today?
Do I need to bring a book?
Does she study English?
Does it rain a lot in April?
Does Maria live near here?
After DOES, the main verb always returns to the base form — NO -s, NO -es, NO -ies.
The -s is already "inside" DOES, so it cannot appear again on the main verb.
✅ Does she work on weekends?
❌ Does she works on weekends? — WRONG
✅ Does he study English?
❌ Does he studies English? — WRONG
Full Structure Table
| Auxiliary | Subject | Verb Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do | I, you, we, they | base verb | Do you work? · Do they study? |
| Does | he, she, it | base verb (NO -s) | Does she work? · Does he study? |
DO Questions — Audio
DOES Questions — Audio
Short Answers
Yes, I do. · No, she doesn't. · Cómo responder correctamente
How to Give Short Answers
In English, we do not repeat the full verb in a short answer. We use the auxiliary verb do / does (for positives) or don't / doesn't (for negatives). Never use the main verb in the answer.
Yes, + subject + do / does .
No, + subject + don't / doesn't .
| Question | Positive Answer | Negative Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Do you work on weekends? | Yes, I do. | No, I don't. |
| Do they live near here? | Yes, they do. | No, they don't. |
| Do we have class today? | Yes, we do. | No, we don't. |
| Does he wake up early? | Yes, he does. | No, he doesn't. |
| Does she study English? | Yes, she does. | No, she doesn't. |
| Does it rain in December? | Yes, it does. | No, it doesn't. |
✅ Does she work? → Yes, she does.
❌ Does she work? → Yes, she does work. — Too long for a short answer
❌ Does she work? → Yes, she do. — Wrong auxiliary
❌ Does she work? → Yes, she works. — Wrong form
Short Answers — Audio
Wh- Questions with DO and DOES
Where · When · What · Why · How · Who — pedir información específica
Asking for More Information
Yes/No questions get a simple yes or no. Wh- questions ask for specific information: a place, time, reason, or person. The structure adds the question word at the beginning.
Wh- word + do / does + subject + base verb ?
Where do they study?
When do you wake up?
What do you eat for breakfast?
What time do they open?
Why don't they eat meat?
How do you learn English?
Wh- Questions — Audio
Making Questions from Statements
Cómo transformar una oración afirmativa en pregunta
From Statement to Question
To turn an affirmative statement into a Yes/No question, move the subject and add the correct auxiliary — do or does — to the front. Remember: the verb loses its -s when does is used.
Statement: Subject + verb(+s) + ...
Question: Do / Does + subject + base verb + ... ?
Common Mistakes
Los errores más frecuentes — y cómo evitarlos
Typical Errors to Avoid
Phrasal Verbs — Daily Actions
put on · take off · eat out · warm up · put away · turn up · turn down · hang out · set up · throw away
10 Essential Phrasal Verbs
These phrasal verbs appear constantly in everyday English. Notice how they work in questions with do and does.
Does he put on a tie for work?
Do they take off their uniforms after work?
Does your family eat out every weekend?
Does he warm up before every game?
Do you put away your clothes after washing?
Does she always turn up the heat in winter?
Does he turn down the music at night?
Do you hang out with your coworkers after work?
Does she set up the classroom before class?
Do they throw away the boxes after unpacking?
Reading: "Questions at the Farmers' Market"
Read the passage carefully. Highlighted words show: DO questions, DOES questions, short answers, and Wh- questions.
Isabella is a journalism student at the University of Heredia. Every Saturday morning, she visits the local farmers' market with her notebook to ask people about their daily routines and habits. It is her favorite assignment of the semester.
The first person she talks to is Don Pedro, a fruit vendor with a warm smile and a big colorful stand full of mangoes, papayas, and pineapples. "Do you come to this market every Saturday?" she asks. "Yes, I do," he replies. "I always set up my stand at 5:30 a.m." Isabella writes in her notebook and continues. "Does your family help you here?" "No, they don't. My children live in San José. I work alone, but I enjoy it very much."
Next, Isabella finds Lucía, a young baker who sells fresh bread and pastries from a wooden cart. "Do you bake everything yourself?" "Yes, I do," Lucía says with a smile. "I wake up at 3:00 a.m. every day to prepare the dough." Isabella is impressed. "Does your bakery have a store downtown?" "No, it doesn't." Lucía replies. "I only sell here at the market on Saturdays and at a small stand near my house on weekday mornings."
Then Isabella notices the Orozco family — a couple with two young children who are running between the vegetable stands. "Do your children enjoy coming to the market?" she asks the mother. "Yes, they do! They love the fresh fruit and the people." The father adds: "We usually eat out after the market at a little restaurant on the corner." Isabella asks: "What time does the market close?" The mother answers: "It closes at noon on Saturdays. It never opens on Sundays."
Finally, Mauricio, a runner in a bright yellow shirt, stops near the juice stand to buy a large glass of fresh orange juice. "Do you come here every Saturday after your run?" "Yes, I do," he laughs. "I always warm up before I run and then I hang out here for a while with my friends." "Does your running group meet here every week?" "No, it doesn't. We sometimes meet on Sundays too, but Saturday is our favorite day."
Isabella puts down her pen and reads through her notes. "Do people in this community have healthy routines?" she writes. She smiles and answers her own question: "Yes, they do."
Reading Comprehension Quiz
10 questions about "Questions at the Farmers' Market." Read the passage carefully before answering.
Practice Quiz — Do, Does & Simple Present Questions
30 questions covering DO vs DOES, the base verb rule, short answers, Wh- questions, common mistakes, and phrasal verbs. Take your time!