How to Make Negatives and Questions in the Simple Present

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In our previous blog lesson, we learned that every complete sentence needs a subject and a verb, and that the simple present tense helps us talk about facts, habits, and schedules. This time, we focus on how to turn those same sentences into negative and question forms. These two are very important because we use them in conversations every day.


Understanding Helping Verbs

Before we make negatives or questions, we need to understand the helping verb “do.”

A helping verb (sometimes called an auxiliary verb) is a small word that helps the main verb show meaning or time. In the simple present, we use do and does as helpers.


Notice that does is only for “he,” “she,” or “it.” For all others, we use do.


How to Make Negatives

To make a negative sentence in the simple present, we use this pattern:

    Subject + do/does + not + base form of the verb

Examples:

  • I do not like cold weather.
  • He does not eat meat.
  • They do not play basketball on Sundays.
  • It does not rain much here.


We often use the short forms in speaking or informal writing:

  • do not → don’t
  • does not → doesn’t

So we can also say:

  • I don’t like cold weather.
  • He doesn’t eat meat.

Notice something important: the main verb after do/does not always returns to its base form. We do not add “–s” anymore because the helper “does” already carries that meaning.


For example:

❌ He doesn’t likes coffee.

✅ He doesn’t like coffee.

If we already use “does,” the main verb stays simple.


How to Make Questions

Questions in English also use the helping verb “do.”

We simply move it to the beginning of the sentence.

    Do/Does + subject + base form of verb + any additional information?


Examples:

  • Do you like pizza?
  • Does she work here?
  • Do they study English?
  • Does it rain in December?


The answer can be short:

  • Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
  • Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t.


Notice that when we move do or does to the front, the main verb again stays in its base form.

We never say “Does she works?” or “Do they plays?” The correct form is “Does she work?” and “Do they play?”


Quick Reference


Let us see this visually:

    Does she read books?
    Helping Verb: Does
    Subject: she
    Main/Base Verb: read

The question word order shows politeness and correctness in English speech.


Common Mistakes and Fixes

  • Adding “–s” twice
        ❌ He doesn’t likes apples.
        ✅ He doesn’t like apples.

  • Using “do” and “does” together
        ❌ Does he does work?
        ✅ Does he work?

  • Forgetting the helping verb
        ❌ You like coffee?
        ✅ Do you like coffee?

When we forget “do” or “does,” the sentence sounds informal or incomplete. In spoken English, people may drop it, but in correct grammar, we should include it.


Wh- Questions

We can also add question words such as what, where, when, who, why, or how before do or does.

Examples:

  • Where do you live?

  • What does he want?

  • When do they arrive?

  • Why does she cry?

  • How do you study English?

We still follow the same pattern:

        Wh- word + do/does + subject + base verb


A Mini Practice

Try to change these sentences into negatives and questions:

She eats rice every day.

→ Negative: She does not eat rice every day.
→ Question: Does she eat rice every day?


They play football.

→ Negative: They do not play football.
→ Question: Do they play football?


He likes swimming.
→ Negative: He does not like swimming.
→ Question: Does he like swimming?


Why This Matters

We might ask why English needs the helping verb “do.” The reason is pattern and clarity. English speakers prefer to keep the main verb in its base form and let “do” carry the question or negative meaning. It makes sentences shorter, clearer, and easier to hear. This pattern began many centuries ago and became one of the most stable features of English grammar.


Summary: 

  • To make negatives, we add do not or does not before the base verb.
  • To make questions, we move do or does before the subject.
  • The main verb never changes form when a helper appears.


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