Basics. Common Questions.: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓How English questions work
In statements, the usual word order is subject + verb: You are tired. She likes coffee. But when you ask a question, English almost always moves an auxiliary (helping) verb in front of the subject. This inversion is the single most important thing to remember about forming questions.
There are two big families you need to handle:
- Yes/No questions: you want a "yes" or "no" answer: Are you coming? Did she call?
- Wh- questions: you want specific information: Where do you live? What did he say?
Both types follow the same core mechanic: auxiliary + subject + main verb.
The role of "Do / Does / Did"
When a statement has no visible auxiliary (no be, have, will, can, etc.), English inserts do / does / did to build the question. This is where most mistakes happen.
✅ Does she speak French? ❌ Speaks she French?
The second version copies a pattern from many other European languages, but English doesn't allow it. You need does because speak is an ordinary verb with no auxiliary in the statement (She speaks French).
Notice that the main verb drops its -s ending once does appears; the third-person marking moves onto the auxiliary:
✅ Where does your brother work? ❌ Where does your brother works?
Doubling the -s (does … works) is one of the most common errors at this level. The rule is simple: only one word carries the tense or person marking, and in a question that word is the auxiliary.
Wh- questions with "Be" and modal verbs
When the verb is be or a modal (can, will, should, must …), you don't add do. Just move the existing auxiliary:
✅ Where is the nearest pharmacy? ❌ Where does the nearest pharmacy is?
✅ Can you help me with this? ❌ Do you can help me with this?
The wrong versions are surprisingly frequent because learners over-apply the do-support rule. If the sentence already has an auxiliary or modal, that verb does the job by itself.
The tricky exception: Subject questions
Here's an edge case that confuses even strong B2 learners. When the wh- word IS the subject, you do not invert and you do not add do:
✅ Who wants coffee? (asking about the subject: who = the person who wants) ❌ Who does want coffee?
Compare that with an object question about the same verb:
✅ What do you want? (asking about the object: you is the subject)
The test: if you can replace the wh- word with somebody / something and get a normal statement (Somebody wants coffee), it's a subject question, so leave the word order alone.
Common-error checkpoint
The single mistake that appears most often at B1–B2 is mixing up when to use do/does/did and when not to. Keep this decision tree short:
- Is the main verb be? → Move be before the subject. No do.
- Is there a modal (can, will, should …)? → Move the modal. No do.
- Is the wh- word the subject? → Keep statement order. No do.
- Everything else → Use do / does / did + base form of the verb.
If you nail these four checks, you'll form common questions correctly almost every time.
Correct answers
Question 1
The correct answer is "do". In this question, we are asking about the frequency of an action in the simple present tense, so we use "do" as the auxiliary verb.
Question 2
The correct answer is "can't". In this question, we are asking about the reason for not being able to do something, so we use "can't."
Question 3
The correct answer is "does". In this question, we are asking about the time an action happens in the simple present tense for a singular subject, so we use "does" as the auxiliary verb.
Question 4
The correct answer is "are". In this question, we are asking about the person the subject is currently calling, so we use "are."
Question 5
The correct answer is "isn't". In this question, we are asking about the reason for a negative situation in the present, so we use "isn't."
Question 6
The correct answer is "happened". In this question, we are asking about an event that occurred in the past, so we use "happened."
Question 7
The correct answer is "was". In this question, we are asking about what Nancy wore in the past, so we use "was."
Question 8
The correct answer is "got". This is a question to subject, and the full verb is "has got."
Question 9
The correct order is "Does Emily", not "Emily does."
In yes/no questions, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject: Does + Emily + have…? We use "does" (not "do") because "Emily" is a singular third-person subject.
Question 10
The correct answer is "don't". In this question, we are asking about the reason for not doing something, so we use "don't."
Question 11
The correct answer is "happening". In this question, we are asking about an ongoing situation, so we use "happening."
Question 12
The correct answer is "did". In this question, we are asking about the person the subject met in the past, so we use "did."
Question 13
The correct answer is "did". In this question, we are asking about a past action for a singular subject, so we use "did" as the auxiliary verb for simple past questions.
Question 14
The correct order is "Did they", not "They did."
In yes/no questions, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject: Did + they + travel…? We use "did" because "last summer" tells us the action is in the past.
Question 15
The correct answer is "lives". In this question, we are asking about the person living in the house, so we use "lives."
Question 16
The correct order is "Do they", not "They do."
In yes/no questions, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject: Do + they + enjoy…? We use "do" (not "does") because "they" is plural.
Question 17
The correct answer is "did". In this question, we are asking about what Charles said in the past, so we use "did."
Question 18
The correct answer is "did". In this question, we are asking about the time a past action happened for a singular subject, so we use "did" as the auxiliary verb for simple past questions.