Level A1

Yes/No Questions

A yes/no question usually starts with an auxiliary before the subject: do, does, did with an action verb; is, are, am, was, were with be; or words such as can, will, or have.

Do you speak English?

Look: Do you speak English? The helper do stands before you.

Forms

• Do you speak English? — a normal action verb calls the helper do; with he, she, it it is does, about the past did
• Is she happy? — be calls no helper: it moves to the front itself
• Did they go home? — about the past the helper is did, and the action verb stays plain: go, not went

A common mistake

Wrong: You speak English?

Right: Do you speak English?

So You speak English? is not a question yet. We say: Do you speak English?

More examples

Does your sister like music?

With your sister it is does: Does your sister like music?

Were you at home yesterday?

And with be in the past: Were you at home yesterday?