Introduction
In the simple present tense, negative forms and question forms are made using the auxiliary verb “do”. This page explains the rules.
1. Forming a negative
Negatives in the simple present are formed by adding don't or doesn't before the simple form of the verb:
| Subject | Auxiliary | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | don't | I don't sing |
| You | don't | You don't sing |
| He | doesn't | He doesn't sing |
| She | doesn't | She doesn't sing |
| It | doesn't | It doesn't sing |
| We | don't | We don't sing |
| They | don't | They don't sing |
In other words, only third person singular subjects (he, she and it) have doesn't — the rest have don't.
2. Forming a yes/no question
Yes/no questions are also created using the auxiliary do. This time, the auxiliary is placed before the subject. Here are the rules:
| Auxiliary | Subject | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Do | I | Do I sing? |
| Do | you | Do you sing? |
| Does | he | Does he sing? |
| Does | she | Does she sing? |
| Does | it | Does it sing? |
| Do | we | Do we sing? |
| Do | they | Do they sing? |
3. Forming a WH- question
WH- questions (using words such as “what”, “when”, and “where”) are also created by putting the auxiliary do before the subject. Then, you add the WH- word at the beginning. Here are some examples:
| Statement | Yes/no question | WH- question |
|---|---|---|
| I sing | Do I sing? | What do I sing? |
| You fight. | Do you fight? | Why do you fight? |
| He lives | Does he live? | Where does he live? |
When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercises.