Don't do it!

Simple Present: Negatives and Questions

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.