Understanding the use of “do” or “does” in a question is essential for mastering English grammar. These auxiliary verbs play a crucial role in forming questions in the present simple tense. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, understanding the difference between “do” and “does” can greatly enhance your communication skills.
In the present simple tense, “do” and “does” are used to form questions about actions or states that are habitual or general. The choice between “do” and “does” depends on the subject of the question. If the subject is a singular noun or pronoun (he, she, it, or I), you should use “does.” On the other hand, if the subject is a plural noun or pronoun (we, you, they, or they), you should use “do.”
For example, consider the following sentences:
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He goes to school every day.
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They go to school every day.
Now, let’s form questions using “do” and “does”:
– – Do they go to school every day? As you can see, the question “Does he go to school every day?” uses “does” because “he” is a singular subject. Conversely, the question “Do they go to school every day?” uses “do” because “they” is a plural subject. It’s important to note that “do” and “does” are also used to form questions in the present simple tense with negative sentences. To form a negative question, you simply add “not” after the auxiliary verb. For example: – Does he not go to school every day? – Do they not go to school every day? Another important point to remember is that “do” and “does” can be used to form yes/no questions. In this case, you don’t need to change the subject. For example: – Do you like pizza? – Does she have a cat? By understanding the correct usage of “do” and “does” in questions, you will be able to communicate more effectively in English. Practice forming questions with different subjects and you’ll soon become proficient in this aspect of English grammar.
