Do, does and is

Question

..... he here?..... he live here?..... they live here?..... (does - is) he nice?..... (is - does) he play footbal?I know the answer to each one, but it's difficult for me to explain why I had to choose that specific word?A student may ask why don't we put does instead of is in the first sentence? Apply that question to the rest of the examples.I would appreciate any help.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Hi Syntax;

Welcome to the Forums!

In the case of questions with inverted word order, I would teach the indicative (I) and emphatic (E), and then make the question (Q) using subject-helping verb inversion. The emphatic can be used as the answer (A) and short answer.

(I) He is here. -->(Q) Is he here? --> (A) Yes, he is.

(I) He lives here. --> (E) He does live here. -->(Q) Does he live here? --> (A) Yes, he does live here. --> (A-short) Yes, he does.

Notice that do and be are helping verbs. So if there is already a helping verb in the sentence another one is not needed to make the question. Note that when a helping verb is present, the main verb is not inflected.

Modal:

(I) He should live here. -> (Q) Should he live here? -> (A) Yes, he should live here. -> (A-short)Yes, he should.

Past:

(I) He lived here. -> (E) He did live here. -> (Q) Did he live here? -> (A) Yes, he did live here.

Syntaxrepair · Answer

AlpheccaStars, thank you.

Consider me a student in your class, I don't want to learn without telling me why?

I want to know why do I have to choose (Does) he live here? instead of (Is). While in (Is) he here? I can't choose (Does)?

Is it something to do with action verbs and state verbs?

I need your help.

Englishmaven · Answer

Dear Syntax,

I'll just jump into my explanation.

The verb be occurs with present and past participles to make progress tenses and passive constructions:

am going
was preparing
has been working
may have been studying

is seen as
was broken by the boy
has been proposed

The verb be also occurs with nouns, adjectives, and adverbs.

He is a doctor.
He is tall.
He is here.

All questions following this structure will use forms of be.

Are you going to the store?
Is he playing?
Were they working?
Are the windows broken?
Was the plan proposed?

Is he a doctor?
Is he tall?
Is he here?

The base form of the verb (the infinitive without "to") follows forms of do (affirmative, negative, present, past), can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, and must, so if the sentence has a main verb in the base form, any of the above are used in the question, negative, tag question, short answer, and emphatic.

Note the base forms.

Do you like the story?
Would you like to go?
Should you talk in class?
Must I tell the truth?
Doesn't he know the answer?
Does he know the answer?
Did he know the answer?
Didn't he know the answer?

Forms of have occur with the past participle to create perfect tenses. If you have the past participle, and you are not expressing the passive with be, you use have forms.

I have gone. Have I gone yet?
He has finished the work. Has he finished the work?
She had arrived before he called. Had she arrived before he called?

I hope this is clear and helps you explain grammar to your students.

Anonymous · Answer

Does he live near your house ?

Anonymous · Answer

I want to know how to answer the questin ....Does he live near your house?

Do, does and is

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