Do you pack a lunch? Does Nora pack a lunch? The subject changes the helper verb; the main verb stays pack. Try the questions below, then open the answers to see how each one works.
01 / BUILD THE QUESTION
Start with the subject
For these present-simple questions with ordinary verbs, use do with I, you, we and they, and does with he, she and it. A plural noun such as the two porters follows the do pattern; a name for one person such as Nora follows the does pattern.
| Subject | Question starter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I / you / we / they; plural nouns | do | Do the porters start early? |
| he / she / it; one person or thing | does | Does Nora start early? |
After does, keep the base verb
Compare Nora feeds the goats with Does Nora feed the goats? The -s is carried by does; the main verb is feed.
The usual pattern is do/does + subject + base verb. A question word can come first: Where does Jonah keep his boots?
Two useful contrasts
With be as the main verb, move be before the subject: The keys are on the shelf. → Are the keys on the shelf?
When who is itself the subject, an ordinary positive question can keep the verb after who: Someone brings the bread. → Who brings the bread? An emphatic form with does is also possible, as the last exercise shows.
Give a short answer
Does Asha read every evening? — Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't. A short answer repeats the auxiliary. The positive and negative replies give different information.
02 / YOUR TURN
Eight questions to try
Each question tells you what to choose. The last task has more than one grammatical answer.
Nora feeds the goats as part of her morning routine.
Complete the present-simple question.
___ Nora feed the goats every morning?
Answer and explanation
Answer: B
Does
Nora is one person, so this question uses does. The next verb is feed, without an extra -s.
Two porters work together at the station.
Complete the present-simple question.
___ the two porters start work before sunrise?
Answer and explanation
Answer: A
Do
The plural subject “the two porters” takes do. Put start in its base form.
You are asking someone about a regular weekend trip.
Complete the present-simple question.
___ you walk to the bakery every weekend?
Answer and explanation
Answer: C
Do
Use do with the subject “you”, whether you refers to one person or several.
You want to ask about the baker's daily work.
Choose the verb form.
Does the baker ___ bread here every morning?
Answer and explanation
Answer: C
bake
Does carries the third-person form. The main verb stays bake, not bakes or baking.
WHEN YOU’RE READY
Explore Oracle Sanctum
Open GrammarRift, choose Try a guest descent, then Grammar dungeons → Enter Oracle Sanctum. A new school run starts at stage 1 with question foundations. The do-question family is in stage 2 as you progress, alongside other related practice. The link opens the game; it does not select a topic or skip a stage. Guest progress stays on this device.
Explore Oracle SanctumTry a guest descent → Grammar dungeons → Enter Oracle Sanctum. New run: stage 1; do-question family: stage 2.
KEEP PRACTISING
Four more to try
Jonah keeps his spare boots somewhere in the house.
Complete the question about the place.
Where ___ Jonah keep his spare boots?
Answer and explanation
Answer: A
does
Where comes first, then does, then the singular subject Jonah and the base verb keep.
You are asking about the keys' location now.
Choose the question starter.
___ the keys on the shelf?
Answer and explanation
Answer: B
Are
This question uses be to ask about location. The keys are plural, so move are before the subject: Are the keys on the shelf?
Asha says she reads every evening. Someone asks, Does Asha read every evening?
Choose the full positive short answer in standard English.
Answer and explanation
Answer: A
Yes, she does.
The short positive answer repeats does after she. The reply 'No, she doesn't' is grammatical, but it gives a negative answer rather than the positive one supported by Asha's statement.
One person regularly brings the bread before breakfast, and you want to know who it is.
Select every grammatical question that can ask about the person. Extra emphasis is allowed.
Answer and explanation
Accepted answers: A + C
Who brings the bread before breakfast? / Who does bring the bread before breakfast?
The first form is the ordinary subject question. The form with does can add emphasis or contrast. Both can ask about the person; after does, the verb is bring, not brings.
