Questions with do and be

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson you can build questions with "do", "does", "did" and with "be", and you can spot the mistake when the two systems are mixed.

Two question systems

English has two common ways to make a yes/no question. With most verbs you add an auxiliary: "do", "does", or "did". With the verb "be" you move the verb itself to the front. Compare "Do you work here?" with "Are you working here?" and "Did she call?" with "Was she at home?" The first question in each pair asks about an action; the second asks about a state or an ongoing action. Keeping these two systems separate is the key to natural questions.

For present simple questions about habits or facts, use "do" or "does" plus the base form of the main verb: "Do you speak Spanish?", "Does the train leave at six?", or "Do they need help?" The subject comes immediately after the auxiliary. For past simple questions, use "did" plus the base form: "Did you finish the report?", "Did she travel alone?", or "Did the meeting start on time?" Notice that "did" already shows past time, so the main verb stays in its base form. "Did you went" is a very common error.

Questions with "be"

When the main verb is "am", "is", "are", "was", or "were", do not add "do". Move "be" in front of the subject: "Are you ready?", "Is he a doctor?", "Were they late?", or "Was the door open?" The same rule applies in continuous tenses and passives: "Are you working?", "Is the file being updated?", or "Were the tickets booked online?" In all of these, "be" carries the grammar and "do" would be wrong.

"Be" questions also appear with prepositions and complements: "Are you from Brazil?", "Is this seat free?", or "Were you at the conference?" Because "be" describes state, identity, or location, these questions often ask for information rather than an action. A useful test is to ask yourself whether the sentence contains a form of "be" as the main verb. If it does, move that verb; if it does not, use "do", "does", or "did".

Question words

With "wh-" words, the auxiliary still comes before the subject. For present simple: "Where do you live?", "What does this word mean?", or "How do they travel to work?" For past simple: "Why did she leave early?", "When did the class end?", or "Who did you meet?" For "be" questions: "Where are you from?", "Why is he upset?", or "When were the results published?" The pattern is question word + auxiliary or "be" + subject + main verb. "Who" as the subject is a special case: "Who called you?" does not need "did" because "who" is already the subject.

Common mistakes

• "Do you are ready?" instead of "Are you ready?"
• "Did you went home?" instead of "Did you go home?"
• "Does she works here?" instead of "Does she work here?"
• "Are you know the answer?" instead of "Do you know the answer?"
• "Where you are from?" instead of "Where are you from?"
• "What means this word?" instead of "What does this word mean?"

Practice

Rewrite each statement as a question using the correct auxiliary.

1. You finished the report.

2. She is a nurse.

3. They work at the airport.

4. He was late for the meeting.

5. You know the answer.

6. The train leaves at eight.

7. They are coming tomorrow.

8. She called you yesterday.

Answers: 1. Did you finish the report? 2. Is she a nurse? 3. Do they work at the airport? 4. Was he late for the meeting? 5. Do you know the answer? 6. Does the train leave at eight? 7. Are they coming tomorrow? 8. Did she call you yesterday?

A speaking task

Ask a partner eight questions: four with "do", "does", or "did" and four with "be". Include at least two "wh-" questions. After each answer, ask one follow-up question. This practice helps you choose the auxiliary automatically instead of translating from your first language.