Simple Present Tense: Do/Does
How Do/Does Work?
In simple present tense, we use do and does
for negative sentences and questions. We also add -s or
-es to verbs when the subject is he, she, or it.
Positive Forms (No Do/Does)
In positive sentences, we don't use do/does. We just add -s/-es to verbs with he/she/it.
I/You/We/They + base verb
- I work every day.
- You study English.
- We play football.
- They live in London.
He/She/It + verb + s/es
- He works every day.
- She studies English.
- It plays loud music.
- John lives in London.
Negative Forms (With Don't/Doesn't)
In negative sentences, we use don't/doesn't and the verb goes back to base form.
I/You/We/They + don't + base verb
- I don't work on Sundays.
- You don't study German.
- We don't play tennis.
- They don't live in Paris.
He/She/It + doesn't + base verb
- He doesn't work on Sundays.
- She doesn't study German.
- It doesn't play loud music.
- John doesn't live in Paris.
Questions (With Do/Does)
In questions, we use do/does at the beginning and the verb goes back to base form.
Do + I/you/we/they + base verb?
- Do I work too much?
- Do you study English?
- Do we play tomorrow?
- Do they live here?
Does + he/she/it + base verb?
- Does he work here?
- Does she study medicine?
- Does it play good music?
- Does John live alone?
Interactive Verb Transformations
Click on any verb below to see how it changes in different situations:
work
He/She/It:
works
Negative:
doesn't work
Question:
Does he work?
study
He/She/It:
studies
Negative:
doesn't study
Question:
Does she study?
play
He/She/It:
plays
Negative:
doesn't play
Question:
Does it play?
watch
He/She/It:
watches
Negative:
doesn't watch
Question:
Does he watch?
go
He/She/It:
goes
Negative:
doesn't go
Question:
Does she go?
teach
He/She/It:
teaches
Negative:
doesn't teach
Question:
Does he teach?
write
He/She/It:
writes
Negative:
doesn't write
Question:
Does she write?
read
He/She/It:
reads
Negative:
doesn't read
Question:
Does it read?
live
He/She/It:
lives
Negative:
doesn't live
Question:
Does he live?
try
He/She/It:
tries
Negative:
doesn't try
Question:
Does she try?
Spelling Rules for He/She/It
Add -s to most verbs:
- work → works
- play → plays
- read → reads
- write → writes
Add -es to verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o:
- watch → watches
- teach → teaches
- go → goes
- fix → fixes
Change -y to -ies (after consonant):
- study → studies
- try → tries
- fly → flies
- cry → cries
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Wrong: "She don't work here."
Why wrong: Use "doesn't" with he/she/it
Why wrong: Use "doesn't" with he/she/it
Correct: "She doesn't work here."
Wrong: "Does he works here?"
Why wrong: Use base form after does
Why wrong: Use base form after does
Correct: "Does he work here?"
Wrong: "He doesn't works on Sundays."
Why wrong: Use base form after doesn't
Why wrong: Use base form after doesn't
Correct: "He doesn't work on Sundays."
Wrong: "Do she study English?"
Why wrong: Use "does" with he/she/it
Why wrong: Use "does" with he/she/it
Correct: "Does she study English?"