8 Present Simple Interrogative
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Introduction
The present simple is the tense used to express permanent situations or events that regularly repeat or always occur.
When expressed in its interrogative form, the verb is used to ask something about the subject.
Form
The simple present tense, in its interrogative form, has this structure:
Do/does + subject + verb + …?
- Do/does: the third person singular changes from do to does;
- Verb: the base form of the verb is the same (without any changes);
- Irregular verb to be: Am I…? – Are you…? – Is she…? …
| Do/Does | Subject | Verb | Question Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do | I | work | …? |
| Do | you | work | …? |
| Does | he | work | …? |
| Does | she | work | …? |
| Does | it | work | …? |
| Do | we | work | …? |
| Do | you | work | …? |
| Do | they | work | …? |
Example
- Completed actions that happen as we speak
- Does the taxi driver disappear?
- Facts
- Do teachers perform an important role in society?
- Habits/routines
- Do you usually wake up at 8 o’clock?
- Does he go to the gym twice a week?
- Do we go to the cinema too much?
- Informal narrative
- Does the housewife transform into a princess?
- Instructions
- How do I get to the supermarket?
- How do I update the new apps?
- Do you have any advice?
- Permanent situations
- Do I live in Russia?
- Does she work in a police station?
- Did the doctor study English?
- Planned future
- Do I start my new job on 17th June?
- Does the exam period end on 19th December?
- Does Emily’s plane land in 2 hours, or 3?
- Promises…
- Do you promise to buy me a new phone?
- Timetables
- Does the train leave at 7 o’ clock?
Use
Present simple, in its interrogative form, is used to ask about:
- Completed actions that happen as we speak (commentaries);
- Facts (things that are generally true, stated);
- Habits/routines (something that happens repeatedly in the present);
- Informal narrative (when telling a story).
Instructions (orders);- Permanent situations (that have been happening for a while and will be happening in the future);
- Planned future (planned events with a given exact date);
- Promises;
- Timetables (planned events with given exact time);
Summary
We use the present simple, in its interrogative form, to ask about situations that regularly, repeatedly or always occur.
When we use the present simple in its interrogative form, we start with do followed by the subject and the verb in its base form (the sentence ends with a question mark). In the third person singular, we use does.
For example:
— “Do you work on important projects?” = The sentence is in the present simple interrogative, so we start with do and we use the base form of the verb to work (work).
— “Does she work on important projects?” = The subject is she, so we start with does and we use the base form of the verb to work (work).
NOTE: The verb to be is irregular, so it doesn’t follow the general formation rule for the interrogative form. We put it at the beginning of the sentence to form questions.
Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.
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