do, does

Use do with I, you, we and they. Use does with he, she, it, a name or one thing. After do or does, the main verb is always the base form, with no -s.

Negatives

Put don't (do not) or doesn't (does not) before the verb.

The -s moves to does: she works → she doesn't work.

Questions

Do or does comes before the subject.

With a question word, it comes after the question word.

Short answers

Answer with do, does, don't or doesn't. Don't repeat the main verb.

What do you do?

Do is also a normal verb. In What do you do? the first do makes the question and the second is the verb. The question asks about someone's job.

Be and can don't take do

Be, can and have got make questions and negatives on their own.

Common mistakes

• × Does she works? → Does she work?
• × She doesn't works. → She doesn't work.
• × Do she like music? → Does she like music?
• × Where you live? → Where do you live?
• × I no like fish. → I don't like fish.
• × Do you are tired? → Are you tired?
• × Yes, I like. → Yes, I do.