Twenty Questions
I can keep a getting-to-know-you conversation going with do and does.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Your situation
At a language club, two people play a question game. “Do you live near here?” “Yes, I do.” “Do you cook?” “Sometimes.” “What do you cook?” “Pasta.” Later, one person asks about a friend: “Does she come here every week?”
Read the situation transcript
At a language club, two people play a question game. “Do you live near here?” “Yes, I do.” “Do you cook?” “Sometimes.” “What do you cook?” “Pasta.” Later, one person asks about a friend: “Does she come here every week?”
Which follow-up asks for more information after Do you cook?
Compare your idea
What do you cook? asks what food the person makes.
How it works
A yes/no question can start a conversation: Do you cook? A question word can ask for a detail: What do you cook? Where do you work?
Use do for you and does for one other person. After a short answer, add a little information rather than only repeating yes or no. This lesson practises a few useful questions; you do not need to ask twenty.
What/Where/When + do/does + subject + base verb?
Notice this
Do you live near here?
This starts a topic.
Compare this
Where do you work?
This asks for a place.
Hear the examples
Do you live near here?
This starts a topic.
Where do you work?
This asks for a place.
What does your friend study?
Does is used for one other person.
Yes, I do. I live nearby.
This answers and adds information.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: Where does you work?
Say: Where do you work?
Use do with you.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Ask someone about where they live.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
Where do you live?
Check yourself: Use do before you.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Follow up “I cook every evening” with a what question.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
What do you cook?
Check yourself: Ask for missing information rather than the same yes/no answer.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Ask about a friend, then answer with an invented detail.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
What does your friend study? She studies art.
Check yourself: Use does in the question and studies in the answer.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Choose a question word for a place: ___ do you work?
Compare a model and explanation
Where do you work?
Where asks about location.
Self-check 2
Ask about Ana’s hobby with do: Ana plays chess.
Compare a model and explanation
Does Ana play chess?
Does goes with the singular name.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
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Where ___ you live?
do: An ordinary present-simple question with you uses do.
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What ___ your brother study?
does: Your brother takes does and a base verb.
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Someone says “I work in a café.” Which follow-up fits?
Do you like your job?: The correct question follows the work topic with correct do support.
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Choose a question asking about a time.
When do you study?: When asks about time.
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Correct “What does she likes?”
What does she like?: Use like after does.
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“Do you play chess?” Choose a complete short answer.
Yes, I do.: Do in the question is repeated in the short answer.
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Which question changes you to he correctly?
Does he live here?: Use does and keep live unchanged.
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Which follow-up best matches the answer about work?
What do you teach?: The speaker says they teach languages, so ask about teaching.
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Choose a negative answer about your own routine.
No, I don’t study on Sundays.: I uses don’t plus a base verb.
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What helps you continue the conversation?
Ask for a relevant detail.: A relevant question word adds information while the grammar stays simple.
Take it with you
I can keep a getting-to-know-you conversation going with do and does.