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English grammar

Questions and no with do

A0 · Starter Asking questions Questions 10

The rule

This is the biggest surprise in beginner English. To ask a question or to say no about an ordinary verb, English does not move the verb — it puts do or does in front, and the main verb goes back to its plain form. Do you have a receipt? · She does not work today. Note what happens to the -s: it moves onto does and leaves the verb. be and can are the exceptions; they need no do.

Pattern

Do you work? · Does she work? | I do not work · She does not work

Examples

  1. Do you speak English?

  2. Does the bus stop here?

  3. I do not eat meat.

  4. She does not work on Friday.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: Does she works here?

    Right: Does she work here?

    The -s is already in does. The main verb loses it.

  • Wrong: Do you are ready?

    Right: Are you ready?

    be makes its own question. It never takes do.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Have you a receipt?
    2. Do you has a receipt?
    3. Do you have a receipt?
    4. Does you have a receipt?
    Show answer

    Answer: C Do you have a receipt?

    you → do, and the verb stays plain.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Does this bus stops at the hospital?
    2. Is this bus stop at the hospital?
    3. Do this bus stop at the hospital?
    4. Does this bus stop at the hospital?
    Show answer

    Answer: D Does this bus stop at the hospital?

    A bus is it → does.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Do you be the new neighbour?
    2. Does you the new neighbour?
    3. Are you the new neighbour?
    4. Do you are the new neighbour?
    Show answer

    Answer: C Are you the new neighbour?

    With be there is no do at all.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I do not understand.
    2. I am not understand.
    3. I does not understand.
    4. I not understand.
    Show answer

    Answer: A I do not understand.

    I → do not, and the verb stays plain.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    _____ she work on Saturday?

    1. Are
    2. Does
    3. Do
    4. Is
    Show answer

    Answer: B Does she work on Saturday?

    she → does.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    _____ you have any milk?

    1. Does
    2. Are
    3. Do
    4. Have
    Show answer

    Answer: C Do you have any milk?

    you → do.

  7. 7Fill in the gap.

    He _____ not live here.

    1. has
    2. do
    3. does
    4. is
    Show answer

    Answer: C He does not live here.

    he → does not.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    They _____ not speak Arabic.

    1. is
    2. are
    3. does
    4. do
    Show answer

    Answer: D They do not speak Arabic.

    they → do not.

  9. 9Put the words in the right order.

    Do you speak English

    Show answer

    Answer: Do you speak English?

    Do, subject, plain verb.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    I do not eat meat

    Show answer

    Answer: I do not eat meat.

    do not sits between the subject and the verb.

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