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A1Grammar Focus

Do You…? / I Don’t…

I can ask and answer present-simple questions about ordinary activities.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Start with the contrast

“Do you work here?” “No, I don’t. My sister works here.” “Does she work on Sundays?” “Yes, she does.”

Read the situation transcript

“Do you work here?” “No, I don’t. My sister works here.” “Does she work on Sundays?” “Yes, she does.”

After does, do we say work or works?

Compare your idea

Use work. Does already carries the third-person ending.

How it works

Two women in navy and burgundy suits talking across a small round table, one gesturing with an open hand.
Do you drink tea?Picture context: the woman in blue asks about her companion’s usual drink. The cups do not establish the answer.

Use do with I, you, we and they. Use does with he, she or it. In a question, put do or does before the person.

For a negative, use don’t or doesn’t before the base verb. Keep the verb unchanged after does or doesn’t: Does she work? She doesn’t work. Short answers use do or does again.

Do/Does + subject + base verb? Subject + don’t/doesn’t + base verb.

Notice this

Do you live here?

This asks about your home.

Compare this

Does he work on Saturdays?

Use does with he.

Hear the examples

Do you live here?

This asks about your home.

Does he work on Saturdays?

Use does with he.

I don’t drink coffee.

Use don’t with I.

She doesn’t drive.

Use the base verb after doesn’t.

One mistake worth avoiding

Instead of: Does she works here?

Say: Does she work here?

After does, use the base form work.

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 about a friend’s usual breakfast.

Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text

Do you eat breakfast at home?

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

Say one thing you do not do.

Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text

I don’t drive.

Check yourself: Use don’t plus the base verb.

Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.

Your turn 3

Ask whether one family member works on Sundays.

Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text

Does your sister work on Sundays?

Check yourself: A singular family member takes does.

Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.

Two women in navy and burgundy suits talking across a small round table, one gesturing with an open hand.
I don’t drink coffee.Picture context: the woman in burgundy explains her habit. Don’t is followed by the base form drink.

Two guided self-checks

Say or write your answer before opening a model.

Self-check 1

Make a question: They live nearby.

Compare a model and explanation

Do they live nearby?

Do comes before they.

Self-check 2

Make a negative: He speaks French.

Compare a model and explanation

He doesn’t speak French.

Doesn’t takes speak, not speaks.

Check your understanding

Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.

1. ___ you study English?

2. ___ your brother drive?

3. She doesn’t ___ coffee.

4. Choose a correct negative.

5. “Does Ana live here?” Choose a short answer.

6. Correct “Do he play chess?”

7. What does “I don’t eat meat” describe?

8. Does the speaker work on Saturdays?

Read the listening transcript

I don’t work on Saturdays. I work from Monday to Friday.

Opening this transcript makes this a reading-supported attempt.

9. Choose the correct question.

10. Where does the third-person ending go in a question?

Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.

Answer key with explanations
  1. ___ you study English?

    Do: Study is an ordinary verb here, so use Do you study…?.

  2. ___ your brother drive?

    Does: Your brother is one person, so use does.

  3. She doesn’t ___ coffee.

    drink: Use a base verb after doesn’t.

  4. Choose a correct negative.

    We don’t work here.: We takes don’t in this pattern.

  5. “Does Ana live here?” Choose a short answer.

    Yes, she does.: A short answer repeats does.

  6. Correct “Do he play chess?”

    Does he play chess?: Use does with he and leave play in the base form.

  7. What does “I don’t eat meat” describe?

    An ordinary eating habit: The present-simple negative describes the speaker’s normal habit.

  8. Does the speaker work on Saturdays?

    No: I don’t work on Saturdays answers the question directly.

  9. Choose the correct question.

    Where do they live?: Put do before they after the question word.

  10. Where does the third-person ending go in a question?

    On does: Does carries the agreement; the main verb stays in its base form.

Take it with you

I can ask and answer present-simple questions about ordinary activities.

Try the companion lesson