examples 1 min read

how do you use do and does

Using do and does in present simple

A closer look

Does she work here? Use does with he, she, it, or one person or thing; use do with I, you, we, they, or plural subjects. The main verb stays in base form after either one.

  • Do you usually walk to work?

  • Does your brother play football on weekends? One person, so does.

  • We don't watch much TV these days.

  • He doesn't like coffee. The verb stays as like, not likes, after doesn't.

  • Do the kids need rides tomorrow? Plural subject, so do, not does.

  • Does this bus stop at the station? This bus is a single thing, so it takes does.

The double -s mistake

The most frequent slip is putting the -s on both verbs: Does she likes pizza? The -s already marks the third person, so it goes on does only, and the main verb returns to base form: Does she like pizza? The same applies to negatives, so He doesn't works here should be He doesn't work here.

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