Questions with do / does / did

A sentence with an ordinary verb (work, like, go, want…) can't move that verb to the front to make a question. Instead, it borrows the helper verb do / does / did.

Sentences with be, can, will, have got, should… do not use do — just move that verb to the front: Are you ready? Can she swim? Have you got a pen?

(Question word) + do / does / did + subject + base verb + the rest?

💡The helper carries the tense and the person (does = present, he/she/it; did = past), so the main verb is always in the base form: Does she speak…? Did you see…?

In everyday questions, a preposition that belongs to the verb usually goes to the end.

• Who do you live with?

• Where does she come from?

• What did you talk about?

Use don't / doesn't / didn't to show surprise or to expect the listener to agree.

• Don't you like it?

• Why didn't you tell me?

If who / what is the person or thing doing the action (the subject), the question has no do/does/did and the verb is the same as in a normal sentence. See also the lesson “Subject and object questions”.

• Who called you?

  who = the caller; not: Who did call you?

• Who did you call?

  who = the person called

• What happened?

• ✗You like pho?

  ✓Do you like pho?

  Written English needs the helper (dropping it is casual speech only).

• ✗Where she works?

  ✓Where does she work?

  does is missing and the word order is wrong.

• ✗Did you went out?

  ✓Did you go out?

  Base form after did.

• ✗Do you can help me?

  ✓Can you help me?

  With can, don't use do.

• ✗Does she is a doctor?

  ✓Is she a doctor?

  With be, don't use do.