When do I use DO/DOES/DID?

The structure of questions in English varies depending on the verb.  Verbs are divided into two categories:

1. to be
2. ALL other verbs (DO/DOES/DID)

If the verb is (to be), then the grammar will be different. If the verb is any other verb except (to be), then we use DO/DOES/DID as the helping or auxiliary verb.  We also use DO/DOES/DID for negative statements, but for this post, let's take a look at questions.  At the end of this post, you can find information about questions using the verb TO BE.

Questions: ALL Other Verbs (Using DO/DOES/DID)

To form questions in English using any other verb except (to be), we must use the helping or auxilary verbs: DO/DOES/DID.  Remember that DO/DOES we use in the present tense with the following subjects:

• PRESENT TENSE (AUXILIARY VERB): DO/DOES

Do (I, you, we, they) understand English?
Does (he, she, it, your mother, the man) speak well?

• PAST TENSE (AUXILIARY VERB): DID

And we use DID in the past tense with all subjects:
Did (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) pass the exam?

• When forming questions with DO/DOES/DID, we use the following format:

Question Word + DO/DOES/DID + Subject + Verb
What                 + do                      +you        +like to do on the weekends?

We use DO/DOES/DID with the present and past simple tenses as seen below.

Examples:

• He likes to play baseball.= Does he like to play baseball?
• They went shopping yesterday.= Did they go shopping yesterday?
• They do their homework after dinner.= Do they do their homework after dinner?
• She travels to Asia every summer.= Where does she travel every summer?
• We go jogging at 7:00 am every morning.= When do you go jogging?
• I went to class four times per week.= How often did you go to class?

Questions: TO BE

To form questions using the verb to be, all we do is switch the position of the subject and verb.  Remember, we use the verb to be in the present, past, continuous, future (going to) and passive constructions, as seen below.

 

Examples:

• He is Italian= Is he Italian? (present)
• They are going to participate in the contest=  Are they going to participate in the contest? (future)
• She is leaving soon!= Is she leaving soon? (continous/future)
• The door is closed.= Is the door closed? (present passive)
• The children were swimming all day long.= Were the children swimming all day long? (past continuous)
• He is being interrogated by the FBI.= Is he being interrogated by the FBI? (present continuous)

I hope this helps.  If you have any suggestions for future blog posts, just write under the Q&A page on my blog ;)