Do + subject + base verb + ?Use Do for present questions with I, you, we, and they. The main verb stays bare.
Yes/No Questions
A1Yes/no questions ask for Yes or No. Use Do/Does for present and Did for past, then answer with the matching short form.
What you'll learn
- Ask present yes/no questions with Do after I, you, we, and they.
- Ask present yes/no questions with Does after he, she, and it.
- Ask past yes/no questions with Did for any subject.
- Keep the main verb in the base form after Do, Does, and Did.
- Give short answers with the same auxiliary as the question.
Structure
Does + subject + base verb + ?Use Does for present questions with he, she, and it. Do not add -s to the main verb.
Did + subject + base verb + ?Use Did for past questions with all subjects. The main verb is base form, not past form.
Yes, subject + do/does/did. / No, subject + don't/doesn't/didn't.Short answers repeat the auxiliary from the question. Do not repeat the main verb.
Build a sentence
Subject
Verb
Doesshelike?
Does she like coffee?
Use Does with she. The main verb stays bare: like, not likes.
When to use
Present facts and habits
Ask if something is true now or happens regularly. Do they work here? Does Anna drive to work?
Finished past actions
Ask about completed actions in the past. Did Tom call last night? Did they arrive yesterday?
Quick replies
Answer fast without repeating the full sentence. Yes, she does. No, we didn't.
Markers
every dayusuallynowyesterdaylast nightlast week
Common mistakes
Wrong
You like this song?
Correct
Do you like this song?
A yes/no question needs the auxiliary at the front.
Wrong
Does they live nearby?
Correct
Do they live nearby?
Use Do with they, not Does.
Wrong
Do she need help?
Correct
Does she need help?
Use Does with he, she, and it in present yes/no questions.
Wrong
Does he works on Fridays?
Correct
Does he work on Fridays?
After Does, the main verb stays in the base form.
Wrong
Did Maria went home early?
Correct
Did Maria go home early?
Did already shows the past, so the main verb must be base form.
Wrong
Does Lisa cook? Yes, she do.
Correct
Does Lisa cook? Yes, she does.
The short answer must match the auxiliary in the question.
Common misconceptions
❝ I can make a yes/no question by keeping statement order and adding a question mark. ❞
Standard English yes/no questions need Do, Does, or Did at the front unless another auxiliary is already there.
❝ If the meaning is present or past, the main verb should also show it after the auxiliary. ❞
After Do, Does, or Did, the auxiliary shows the grammar and the main verb stays in the base form.
Skills in this rule (6)
DO_FOR_I_YOU_WE_THEYw5Use Do with I, you, we, and they
Start a yes/no question with Do before I, you, we, or they. The main verb stays in its base form.
DOES_FOR_HE_SHE_ITw5Use Does with he, she, and it
Start a yes/no question with Does before he, she, or it. The main verb stays in its base form, without -s.
DID_FOR_PASTw5Use Did for past yes/no questions
Ask about finished past actions with Did before any subject. The main verb stays in its base form.
BASE_VERB_AFTER_AUXw5Keep the main verb in the base form after Do, Does, and Did
After Do, Does, or Did, do not add -s or a past ending to the main verb. The auxiliary carries the grammar signal.
SHORT_ANSWERS_MATCH_AUXw4Answer with Yes/No and the matching auxiliary
Use short answers like Yes, I do / No, she doesn't / Yes, they did. Repeat the auxiliary from the question, not the main verb.
PICK_PRESENT_OR_PAST_QUESTIONw4Choose Do/Does for present and Did for past
Use Do or Does for present-time questions and Did for finished past time. Time words like yesterday or last night point to Did.